Trusting in God, discovering the happiness experienced in serving others and listening to the wisdom of children. These are among the joys of the priesthood, said this year's Golden Jubilarian priests who are celebrating 50 years of ministry to God's people.
Father Fernando Iglesias said he would tell new priests to embrace the values of "sacrifice and service." Full of good cheer, Father Iglesias spoke with The Tidings prior to the annual Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels April 10.
"By giving up yourself to the people," he continued, "you receive happiness. Good Friday leads to Easter."
Father Iglesias has enjoyed a lifetime of different opportunities for ministry and service. Born in Leon, Spain, he attended the Oblates of Mary Immaculate Seminary in Pozuelo de Alarcon, was ordained March 17, 1956, and was first assigned to Holy Family Church in Wilmington. For a time, he preached at the Spanish missions in the Southwest and taught high school.
Father Iglesias returned to Wilmington in 1976 and served as pastor at Holy Family for six years and for six years at Mary Immaculate Church in Pacoima. He was also pastor at St. Philip Neri Church in Lynwood and was incardinated as a priest for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 1990. For ten years he headed the parish of St. Mariana de Paredes in Pico Rivera and retired as pastor emeritus in 2003. He now lives in Moreno Valley.
Salvatorian Father Tulio Maya, born in Columbia in 1931, studied in Rome and celebrated his first Mass in the same church and using the same chalice which Pope Pius XII used when he was first ordained, an anecdote Father Maya loves to retell.
In addition to serving in Italy, his ministry as a Salvatorian priest took him to England, Germany, Spain, Columbia and the United States.
Father Maya said he would advise newly ordained priests to shun discouragement when facing challenges and to hold onto the certainty that "something better will come. Trust in God and the gift He gave to us when he called us to the priesthood."
In the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Father Maya has served in various parishes, including Christ the King Church and Precious Blood Church in Los Angeles, St. Albert the Great Church in Compton and Our Lady of Guadalupe Church (Rosehill) in East L.A. He now serves as associate pastor at St. Gertrude Church in Bell Gardens.
Father Maya said he could never understand why many good priests abandoned the priesthood. "When I committed myself to the priesthood, I knew I had to keep it," he reflected with his calm manner. "It was not a matter of feelings. If I made a promise, I would keep it."
Msgr. Andrew Tseu is one of three priest brothers from a family in China that traces its Catholic roots to the 16th century. He completed his studies for the priesthood at St. Thomas Seminary in Denver and was ordained May 26, 1956 at St. Clara Church in Chicago for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Father Tseu's first assignments were St. Joseph and St. Cornelius Church in Long Beach, Mary Star of the Sea Church in San Pedro, St. Margaret Mary Church in Lomita and St. Maria Goretti Church in Long Beach. In 1978 he became pastor of St. Madeleine Church in Pomona, and in 1988 he was named a monsignor. For 23 years, Msgr. Tseu headed the Pomona parish, retiring as pastor emeritus in 2001.
Over the years, Msgr. Tseu said he particularly enjoyed visiting parish schools and being present to the students as he sat in on classes. "You learn a lot from children," he said.
Four other diocesan priests, all retired pastors emeriti of their respective parishes, are celebrating their 50th anniversaries of ordination this year: Fathers Thomas Boudreau (Divine Saviour, Cypress Park; see pages 10-11), Jerome Bouska (St. Helen, South Gate), Patrick Hughes (Our Lady of Guadalupe, Irwindale) and James Rothe (St. Sebastian, Santa Paula). Additional golden jubilarians include Augustinian Recollect Father Robert Huse and Franciscan Father Maurus Kelly. Hermine Lees contributed to this article. |