Twenty-five years ago Cardinal Timothy Manning ordained the St. John's Seminary class of 1981 to the priesthood in St. Vibiana Cathedral.

Their ordination was Saturday, June 6, just a few weeks after Pope John Paul II was shot three times in St. Peter's Square as he rode in his open Jeep during a Wednesday general audience --- a sobering event that overshadowed the celebratory occasion.

The occasion itself was a major concern for the ordinands, since the original date for the ordination was June 20. However, Cardinal Manning was summoned to Rome for a commission meeting at that time and informed them that he would ordain them on June 6 instead.

Because the seminarians had all completed elaborate plans for their first Masses, family gatherings and receptions, the group --- according to Father Michael Wakefield, one of those about to be ordained --- tried to persuade the cardinal to appoint a bishop for the ordination to ease the conflict.

"But Cardinal Manning said, 'No, I ordain the priests for the archdiocese, and who knows what merit that will add to your salvation by those two weeks,'" Father Wakefield recalled. As it turned out, every plan became easily changed and ordination on June 6 was perfect with the cardinal strongly emphasizing the "gift of priesthood" each was receiving.

Five years later the group had an anniversary lunch with the cardinal who told them, "By now you have seen, heard, tasted and felt everything, and all you need is to persevere."

Those who have persevered:

Father Eugene Herbert. A native Angeleno born in 1945, Father Herbert served in Vietnam as an Army medic, "patching up the wounded coming from the battlefield," he said, "and thereby making me a Christian." The only convert in the class, he was supported in his decision to join the priesthood by the Redemptorists at St. Mary's in Whittier. His associate pastor assignments include St. Frances X. Cabrini, L.A.; Annunciation, Arcadia; St. John Fisher, Rancho Palos Verdes; and St. Louise de Marillac, Covina. In 1999 he was appointed pastor of Annunciation.

Father Joseph F. Hernandez. Also a native Angeleno born in 1953, he attended Belmont High School and UCLA. Father Hernandez served as associate at Holy Trinity, San Pedro; Our Lady of the Assumption, Ventura and Sacred Heart, Pomona. For seven years he was pastor of St. Francis of Assisi in L.A. and named pastor of St. Teresa of Avila in 2004, the same year he was appointed the vice chancellor of the archdiocese. In holding both posts, he observed, "being a pastor in this new position gives me a measuring stick and helps me find good people at both places."

Father John Higgins. A native of Indiana born in 1948, he attended Downey High School and Cerritos College. Father Higgins started his associate ministry at American Martyrs, Manhattan Beach, and then was a faculty member at Bishop Garcia Diego High School in Santa Barbara. Next he served at St. Raphael, Goleta, and St. Joan of Arc, L.A., each for six years. He was administrator at St. Thomas Aquinas, Monterey Park, and now holds the same post at St. Raymond, Downey.

Father Kevin Kester. A native of Newfoundland, Canada, born in 1950, Father Kester attended Fermin Lasuen High School (now Jeanne Jugan Residence in San Pedro). He served at St. Linus, Norwalk, Our Lady of the Assumption, Claremont; St. Cyprian, Long Beach; and is presently at St. Bede, La Canada.

Father Pedro J. Lopez. Born in Ventura in 1955, he attended Holy Cross School in Santa Barbara. His associate positions include St. Mary Magdalen, Camarillo, and St. Augustine, Culver City. Father Lopez was pastor of Nativity, El Monte for 12 years and is now pastor of St. Pius X in Santa Fe Springs.

Father Raymond D. Morales. A native Angeleno born in 1954, Father Morales graduated from Loyola High School and has a B.A. degree in political science from USC. His first assignment was Our Lady of Refuge, Long Beach; others include St. Gerard Majella, L.A., and six years at St. Mel, Woodland Hills. In 1997 he was named pastor of St. Bridget of Sweden, Van Nuys.

Father Frank A. Russo, Jr. Born in New York in 1947, he studied here at Cal State Northridge. His associate positions include St. Frances of Rome, Azusa; Our Lady of the Assumption, Claremont; St. John Neumann, Santa Maria; St. Hilary, Pico Rivera; and St. Christopher, West Covina. Since 2004 Father Russo has been on sick leave.

Father Michael Wakefield. A Pasadena native born in 1954, he attended St. Francis High School and hold a B.A. in political science from UC Santa Barbara. He served at St. Cyril, Encino; St. Timothy, L.A. and Holy Family, South Pasadena. In 1998 Father Wakefield was named pastor of St. Euphrasia, Granada Hills. "I really like being a pastor," he said, "and have learned from all the pastors I've known to try and care for souls."

The jubilee class gathered in April at St. John's for their anniversary Mass with Cardinal Roger Mahony.

Deceased members of the 1981 class are: Father Raimundo Perez, a native of Mexico and associate at St. Helen, South Gate, who died at age 36 in 1986, and Father Kenneth Sullivan, born in New York, a longtime Tidings board member and pastor of St. Teresa of Avila, L.A., who died in 1994 at age 71.