Serra Club members from throughout the Southland gathered 200-strong at The Sportmen's Lodge in Studio City Sept. 16 to celebrate the 55th Annual Ordinati Day honoring the newest priests of the archdiocese.

"Today's purpose is to recognize and thank the newly ordained priests at the start of their service of the church," said Lawrence Mackel, Serra Club president. All five priests ordained June 4 for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles were present as well as Cardinal Roger Mahony, Msgr. Helmut Hefner, St. John Seminary rector, and archdiocesan vocation directors Father James Forsen, Religious Sister of Charity Kathy Bryant and Father Robert Juarez.

In his remarks following the luncheon, Cardinal Mahony urged the Serrans to volunteer themselves as vocation coordinators in their respective parishes. "With our increasing shortage [of priests], we need to do some new and dramatic things," said the cardinal. "We're happy to have five new men ordained, but five isn't going to do it. We need larger seminary classes for this archdiocese. We count on you for your prayers, your creativity, your initiatives and your take-charge support at the parish level."

Before introducing the new priests individually, Msgr. Hefner shared the "good news" that seminary administrators expect to graduate larger classes beginning in 2007. "We need to pray that we continue to increase the numbers [of seminarians studying] for Los Angeles in the last couple of years," he said. "I want to thank you for all your great work and efforts on behalf of vocations."

Ordinand Father Robert Garon, 46, said his experience as a new priest serving at St. Charles Borromeo Church in North Hollywood has been terrific. "Between 9 and 5 (or 10), I can be doing 12 different things such as saying Mass, hearing confession, anointing the sick, counseling parishioners and visiting schoolchildren," said the Los Angeles native.

Vietnamese-born Father Khoa Mai, 33, serving at All Souls Church in Alhambra, said his ministry as a priest is both interesting and gratifying. "Every time I serve the people, I can see something on their faces. I see how happy they are to talk with a Catholic priest. I see their hope. I see their love," said Father Mai.

Following the luncheon, the ordinand told The Tidings he had a very clear sense of support from Serra members during his nine years in the seminary. "The formation program helped me to be a faithful servant of God," he said.

Father Joseph Quan Nguyen, 29, ministering at American Martyrs Church in Manhattan Beach, expressed gratitude to Cardinal Mahony, archdiocesan vocation directors and members of the Serra Club for their love and support. "You taught me how to be a priest," said Father Nguyen, who celebrated his first Mass in his home village of Thanh-Hai-Phan-Thiet, Vietnam.

Father John Quy Van Tran, 61, serving at St. Lawrence Martyr Church in Redondo Beach, said he appreciated the warm welcome he has received from parishioners as well as the "essential and vital" support of Serra Club members. The Vietnamese-born ordinand, who worked in banking and real estate before entering the seminary, encouraged young people to consider the priesthood. "It's an excellent vocation," he told The Tidings.

Father Joseph C. Wah, Jr., 60, serving at St. Jerome Church in Los Angeles, said he feels blessed and thankful to be a priest. The widower, father and grandfather of three said he particularly enjoys ministering to families. "I have a special desire to work with children and the youth group in the parish," said Father Wah.

When asked if the priesthood presented any surprises so far, Father Wah identified only one: "I was surprised how much people love their priest."