On April 27, 1955, Cardinal James Francis McIntyre, in his seventh year as Archbishop of Los Angeles, ordained to the priesthood what remains the largest class ever from St. John's Seminary in Camarillo.

The 29 men ordained that Wednesday in St. Vibiana's Cathedral included 27 from St. John's, one from St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park, and one from St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore (ordained originally for the Sacramento Diocese, and later returning to Los Angeles).

Altogether, 31 priests were ordained from St. John's that year: 28 for Los Angeles (one actually ordained in Chicago), two for Tuscon, and one for Salt Lake City. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles also received three other priests in 1955 --- one from St. Mary's and two from Ireland --- for a total of 32 new priests.

There were some 980,000 Catholics and 314 parishes in the four-county Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Bishops Joseph McGucken and Timothy Manning were the two auxiliary bishops and the Chancery office that year just moved to its location on Ninth Street. Eight new parishes were established in 1955 and Catholic schools grew in great numbers as the post-war building boom continued in Southern California.

Eighteen members of the St. John's class attended Los Angeles College, the former junior seminary, and four members were from Ireland. The average age of the majority of the class was 25 to 27 years. Members of the 1955 class were assigned to parishes from Santa Maria to Orange and served in a variety of ministries.

When the Orange Diocese was created from Los Angeles in 1976, three priests from the class of 1955 became priests of the new diocese. Other priests ordained elsewhere were later incardinated for Los Angeles. Of the original group, 15 have died, and most of the others have retired from active ministry, with one still serving as a pastor and several others as pastors emeriti. The following are brief summaries of their 50 years of service.

Members of St. John's 1955 Class

Father Michael Daniel Buckley, a native Angeleno, served at Sacred Heart Churches in Los Angeles and Pomona, Immaculate Conception in Monrovia, and was chaplain for many years at two hospitals. He was pastor of Immaculate Conception, New Cuyama, for nearly 14 years. Now retired, he is an accomplished artist, creating posters for the 21 Mission Saints and many other art pieces.

Msgr. James Colberg, born in Los Angeles, attended Our Lady of Lourdes School, East L.A. Parish assignments were at Immaculate Conception, L.A.; St. Christopher, West Covina; and St. Albert the Great, Compton. He was pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption, Santa Maria, from 1974 until he retired in 1999. He was also a high school faculty member at Regina Caeli, Compton; vice principal at Bishop Amat, La Puente; and principal at Paraclete, Lancaster. He served as a Consultor in the archdiocese for many years and was named monsignor in 1983.

Father John Fitzgerald was born in Long Beach and attended St. Anthony elementary and high schools. Parish assignments include St. Columban, Garden Grove; St. Bartholomew, Long Beach; St. Anthony, El Segundo; Immaculate Heart of Mary, L.A. and Sacred Heart, Covina. He then served two tours of duty as a military chaplain and earned a Bronze Star for meritorious service in Vietnam. He later ministered at St. Gregory the Great, Whittier, and was pastor at both St. Philip Neri, Lynwood, and St. Maria Goretti, Long Beach. He retired in 2000.

Msgr. Eugene Frilot, a Los Angeles native, attended St. Brigid School. His parish assignments were St. Emydius, Lynwood; San Antonio de Padua, L.A.; St. Bartholomew, Long Beach; Visitation and St. Michael, L.A.; Holy Family, Glendale; and San Fernando Mission (as administrator). He was named chaplain to his holiness (monsignor) in 1974 and prelate of honor 1978. He served for 11 years as procurator for St. John's Seminary. In 1986 he was appointed pastor of Incarnation, Glendale, and retired in 1999.

Msgr. Lawrence Gibson, born in Glendale, attended Holy Family and Incarnation schools. His early parish assignments were St. Andrew, Pasadena, and St. Frances X. Cabrini, L.A. He taught at Bishop Amat High School, La Puente. He was assistant secretary for Cardinal McIntyre and was director of Vocations (1961-74). In 1966 he became a monsignor. From 1972 to '74 he directed St. Bernardine Chapel, and then was named pastor of SS. Felicitas and Perpetua, San Marino, retiring in 2003 and now pastor emeritus.

Father Rody Gorman, a native of County Galway, Ireland, attended Mungret College, Limerick, before coming to St. John's. His parish assignments include Our Lady of Lourdes, Tujunga; St. Anselm, L.A.: St. Anthony, Long Beach; St. Stephen, Monterey Park; and Our Lady of Refuge, Long Beach. In 1976 he was named pastor of St. Matthias, Huntington Park, where he had served as associate. He headed the parish for 23 years and was a leading member of the United Neighborhoods Organization. In 1999 he was named administrator of St. Helen, South Gate, and shortly after retired.

Msgr. Alfredo Hernandez, a native of Los Angeles, attended St. Mary School in Boyle Heights. He served many years as a chaplain at juvenile detention facilities and four hospitals. Parish assignments were St. Anne, Santa Monica; St. Camillus, L.A.; Immaculate Heart of Mary, L.A.; St. Joseph, La Puente; and Resurrection, East L.A. In 1975 he was named pastor of San Antonio de Padua and then appointed pastor of St. Ignatius, Highland Park, for 19 years. He also served on the Priests' Senate and Council, the Spanish-speaking committee, and was chaplain of the L.A. Fire Dept., the CarisMissions and other outreach ministries. He was named monsignor in 1975 and retired in 1997.

Father Colm O'Ryan of Clommel, County Waterford, Ireland, served associate pastor assignments at St. Elizabeth, Altadena; Holy Trinity, L.A.; St. Patrick, North Hollywood; Our Lady of Victory, Compton; and St. Paschal Baylon, Thousand Oaks, where he was named co-administrator in 1977. He was then named administrator at Good Shepherd, Beverly Hills, and appointed pastor in 1991 where he still serves, the last active pastor of the 1955 class.

Msgr. John Rawden, born in Youngstown, Ohio, is an Army Air Force veteran. For 28 years he worked in the central administration of the archdiocese, as chancellor from 1970 to 1986. In 1962 he was named secretary to Cardinal McIntyre, and held positions as director of insurance and director of cemeteries. He volunteered as a Navy chaplain and also served as Episcopal vicar for South Central L.A. In 1974 he was named pastor of Immaculate Conception, L.A., and later was pastor of La Purisima Concepción, Lompoc (1986-93). He then served at Our Lady of Guadalupe and as chaplain at St. Francis Medical Center, both in Santa Barbara. Msgr. Rawden retired in 1999.

Father Sylvester Thomas was born in Los Angeles. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he graduated from UCLA, received a master's degree at USC and taught in public schools. Originally ordained for Sacramento, he was an associate at St. Gerard Majella, L.A., and taught in archdiocesan Catholic high schools for 17 years. In 1973 he became a licensed school psychologist and served as administrator at St. Bernardine Chapel, L.A., and chaplain at Rancho San Antonio, Chatsworth. From 1992 to 2003 he was chaplain for Maritime Ministry in San Pedro. He retired in 2003.

Father Gerald Walker was born in Portsmouth, Iowa, and served at Immaculate Heart of Mary, L.A.; St. Catherine of Siena, Laguna Beach; St. Ignatius, L.A.; St. Stephen, Monterey Park; and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Downey. He was named pastor of St. James, Redondo Beach in 1977, serving for 13 years. He lived as senior priest at Our Lady of Guadalupe, Irwindale, and retired in 1999.

Incardinated Priests (ordained in 1955)

Father Richard Carey was born in Grand Forks, N.D., 1930. He has served at St. Basil, L.A.; Nativity, El Monte; St. Martha, Huntington Park; St. Joan of Arc, L.A.; St. Joseph, Pomona; St. Catherine Laboure, Torrance; St. Mariana de Paredes, Pico Rivera and is now senior priest at St. Gregory the Great, Whittier. He was ordained in St. Paul, Minnesota and incardinated in Los Angeles in 1987.

Father Leslie Delgado was born in Colon, Panama, 1929. He came to the U.S. in 1942 to enter the Claretian Junior Seminary and was ordained by Archbishop Manning in 1955. Most of his ministry has been as a teacher and professor, at Dominguez Seminary, San Gabriel Mission High School; St. Pius X and St. Anthony. He was incardinated in 1975. In 1986 he was appointed pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Sanctuary, L.A.

Father Donal O'Connor was born in County Cork, Ireland, 1931. He was ordained for the archdiocese after studies at St. Patrick's College, Thurles, Ireland. His assignments in the archdiocese include St. Barnabas, Long Beach; Visitation, L.A.; St. Elizabeth, Altadena; St. Norbert, Orange and St. John the Baptist, Baldwin Park. He was pastor of St. Emydius, Lynwood, 1974-1998 and pastor of St. Christopher, West Covina 1998-2002 and a senior priest at Sacred Heart, Lancaster. He is now retired.

Father Abel Suquilvide was born in Argentina, 1930 and originally ordained for the Diocese of Mercedes, Argentina. He came to L.A. in 1981 and was incardinated in 1992. He has served at St. Thomas Apostle, L.A.; St. Camillus, L.A. and Holy Cross, Moorpark. He was named administrator of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Guadalupe and appointed pastor in 1995.

Deceased Priests (ordained in 1955)

Father John Alvarez was born in Norwalk, Conn., and was a convert to the Catholic Church. A product of St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, he was ordained for Los Angeles by Cardinal Sheehan in Connecticut. Besides parish work at St. John Chrysostom, Inglewood, and Holy Family, Glendale, he taught at Pomona Catholic, Mater Dei, St. Michael, Pius X and St. Genevieve high schools. In 1976 he was named pastor of Sacred Heart, Lancaster. He died in 1978 at age 51.

Father William Appling was a native of Nebraska, served two years in the Navy during World War II and was pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in Guadalupe after associate ministry at Holy Trinity, San Pedro; Nativity, Torrance and St. Francis of Assisi, Fillmore. He died at age 66 in 1992.

Father George Breslin, born in L.A., attended Loyola high school and served in the U.S. Navy before entering St. Patrick's in Menlo Park. He was pastor at St. Joseph, Placentia and in 1976 remained in the Orange Diocese. He died in 1994.

Msgr. John Cosgrove, born in Los Angeles, was principal at two high schools (Santa Clara, Oxnard, and Bishop Conaty, L.A.). His parish assignments included St. Frances of Rome, Azusa; St. Agnes, L.A. and St. Genevieve, Van Nuys where he was pastor for 14 years. For 19 years he was a member of the archdiocesan Ecumenical Commission. In 1989 at age 59 he died of a heart attack.

Father Wallace Daley was born in South Dakota and served four years in the Navy in World War II. His parish assignments included Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Downey; Assumption, Pasadena and St. Philomena, Carson. He was also a hospital chaplain and in 1976 was excardinated to the Orange Diocese. He died at age 80 in 2000.

Father Lawrence Dunphy was born in L.A. and served at Incarnation, Glendale and named pastor of St. Matthew, Long Beach in 1978. Before that he was an educator for 20 years at various schools and principal at St. Bernard High School. He died in 1983 at age 54.

Father John J. Feeney died in 2004, at age 78. He was born in Maine and as an Army chaplain served in World War II, Vietnam and Germany. As associate pastor he served at nine local parishes. He was pastor of Our Lady of the Valley, Canoga Park, for seven years, then served as chaplain at Nazareth House.

Father Finbar Hall was born in County Cork, Ireland and almost 30 years of his ministry in the archdiocese was as a chaplain for the Veterans Hospital. His parish assignments included St. Hilary, Pico Rivera; Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Santa Barbara; St. Frances X. Cabrini and St. Anastasia, L.A. He died at age 66 in 1997.

Father Richard Hartman was born in Rock Island, Ill. He attended St. Paul Seminary in Minnesota before transferring to St. John's in 1953. He served at All Souls, Alhambra; San Juan Capistrano Mission; St. Monica, Santa Monica; Immaculate Heart of Mary, L.A.; and St. Mary of the Assumption, Santa Maria. He died in a motorcycle accident in 1965 at age 34.

Father John Lawless was born in Dublin, Ireland. He entered Mungret College, Limerick in 1949 and came to St. John's in 1951. He served in the archdiocese for 10 years and then returned to Ireland. He died there in 2001 at age 72.

Father Gerald Maechler was a native of Los Angeles who died at age 72 in 2002. Before joining the Air Force in 1964 he served at Cathedral Chapel and St. Augustine, Culver City. For more than 20 years he served in the U.S. Air Force Chaplaincy in Vietnam, Korea and the Gulf War. He was awarded the Bronze Star and rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel. He was named pastor of St. Mariana de Paredes, Pico Rivera, and La Purisima Concepcion, Lompoc.

Father Paul Peterson, a native of Los Angeles, died at age 71 in 1999. As associate pastor he served at St. Boniface, Anaheim; San Buenaventura Mission; Our Lady of Refuge, Long Beach; St. Robert Bellarmine, Burbank; St. Raphael, Goleta; and St. Matthew, Long Beach. For 10 years he was pastor at St. Thomas the Apostle, then pastor of Mother of Sorrows, L.A., and 12 years chaplain at Nazareth House.

Msgr. Donald Ruddy, a native of Iowa, spent most of his 45 years of priesthood at St. Gregory the Great, Whittier --- as an associate, administrator and as pastor for 22 years. He was also an associate at Santa Teresita, L.A.; St. Pancratius, Lakewood; and St. Joan of Arc, West L.A. In 1995 he was named a monsignor and retired in 1998. He died at age 71 in 2000.

Msgr. Robert Stein died at age 61 in 1990 after suffering a stroke while in procession on Palm Sunday. He was pastor of St. Frances of Rome parish in Azusa for 15 years. A native of Los Angeles, he received his masters degree in social work from Fordham University and was assistant director of the Catholic Welfare Bureau. He was also an associate at St. Bartholomew, Long Beach, and Divine Saviour and St. Vibiana, L.A.

Father Patrick Sullivan was born in Chicago where he was ordained after completing theological studies at St. John's and incardinated here in 1981. He served in seven parishes in the archdiocese; was on the faculty at Bishop Amat High School, La Puente; and was pastor of St. Mary Magdalen, L.A., for 24 years. He died at age 74 in 2003.