Jesuit Father Dennis C. Smolarski, son of the late Chester F. Smolarski and Genevieve (Pasek) Smolarski, celebrated 25 years of priestly ministry at St. Monica Church earlier this year.

A native of Harvey, Ill., Father Smolarski moved with his family to Santa Monica, in 1950, where he attended the parish elementary school and high school, graduating in 1965. After attending Santa Clara University and graduating in 1969 with a bachelor's in mathematics, he entered the California Province of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1969.

He was ordained a priest at Blessed Sacrament Church in Hollywood by Cardinal Timothy Manning on June 16, 1979. He continued his graduate studies at College of the Queen of Peace in Santa Barbara (Jesuit Novitiate-Seminary); St. Louis University, for studies in philosophy; UC Santa Barbara, where he received an M.A. in Mathematics; Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, where he received a Master of Divinity degree and a Master of Sacred Theology degree; and the University of Illinois, Urbana, where he received his Ph.D. in Computer Science.

Father Smolarksi is currently on the faculty of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Santa Clara University. He has the distinction of being in possession of an "Indult of bi-ritual faculties for the Byzantine rite," which means he is permitted to minister to Eastern Byzantine Catholics [Ukranian, Russian, Ruthenian, Melkite-Lebanese] according to their special ritual books and customs.

He also has written books in theology/liturgy, including "Eucharista: A Study of the Eucharistic Prayer"; "How Not to Say Mass: A Guidebook for All Concerned about Authentic Worship," and "The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 1969-2002: A Commentary." He is the author of "Song of Farewell" which is included in many hymnals.