Four men representing different ages, ethnic backgrounds and life experiences will be ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles June 3 by Cardinal Roger Mahony.

All four - Fathers Paul Griesgraber, John-Paul Gonzalez, Francis Ilano and Paúl Velásquez - have completed their theological formation at St. John's Seminary in Camarillo. That period has included year-long internships at parishes throughout the archdiocese, and the recent completion of service as transitional deacons.

The four hail from Mexico, the Philippines, Wisconsin and the San Fernando Valley. Reflecting the pattern of recent years in the archdiocese, the men to be ordained include:

-two who have held jobs in other careers prior to ordination;

-one who spent time at the Guadalupe House in East Los Angeles studying English as part of the formation process;

-and one who has followed what was once (a decade and more ago) considered to be a standard road to ordination: high school seminary to college seminary to theologate to ordination, at age 26.

Their Mass of Ordination will take place June 3, 9 a.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Following are brief profiles of the new priests, who begin their first assignments as associate pastors on July 1.

Paul Gerard Griesgraber
Born: July 12, 1951 in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Parents: Andrew and Angeline Griesgraber.
Education: St. Mary Elementary School, Escondido (grades 1-8); University of San Diego High School (9-12); University of Southern California; St. John's Seminary (masters in Divinity and Theology).
Prior occupations: Handyman, real estate and business development.
Home parish: St. Victor, West Hollywood.
Internship and Transitional Diaconate: St. Lucy, Long Beach (intern), and St. Andrew, Pasadena (deacon).
First Mass as priest: St. Victor, June 4 at 12:15 p.m.; St. Lucy, June 10 at 4 p.m.; St. Andrew, June 11 at 11 a.m. (Spanish) and 12:30 p.m. (English).
First Assignment: St. Andrew, Pasadena.
On becoming a priest: "Throughout my life I have not felt a 'strong desire to be a priest' - the supposedly sure sign of a vocation. I saw what looked like the possibility of being a priest in a couple of my friends, and with my encouragement, they went ahead and are now wonderful diocesan priests. When one of them suggested the same for me, I told him about the missing 'strong desire' of a 'vocation.' He said I should just go ahead, and if asked if I had a 'vocation,' 'Just use one of mine. I have two.'

"Seminary formation has been an adventure. My parish priests at St. Victor have been important partners in this before and during the seminary. It is beyond my imagination that I have been invited, with you as partners, to live at the core of Christ's love for his dear ones."

John-Paul Gonzalez
Born: Oct. 16, 1979 in Van Nuys.
Parents: Ed and Carmen Gonzalez.
Education: Queen of Angels High School Seminary, Mission Hills; Chaminade College Preparatory, West Hills; St. John's Seminary College, Camarillo (B.A. in philosophy and theology, 2001).
Home parish: St. Peter Claver, Simi Valley.
Internship and Transitional Diaconate: Immaculate Heart of Mary, L.A. (deacon) and Christ the King, Hollywood (intern).
First Mass as priest: St. Peter Claver, June 4, noon.
First Assignment: St. John of God, Norwalk.
On becoming a priest: "I have wanted to be a priest since childhood; I looked at other priests and thought, I want to do what they do. When I entered the high school seminary 13 years ago, it seemed like ordination was so far away. Now I think, where did the time go? It's been a wonderful experience, and now I'm really excited that June 3 is almost here. I look forward to loving and serving the Lord and his people as a priest."

"We have a great need in our church for priests and religious. I hope that, as I work with youth, I can encourage them to think about the priesthood or religious life - not just by my words, but by my actions. I encourage everyone to follow Christ, to be open to his voice and to what he calls them to be and do as his disciples."

Francis Rodel Ilano
Born: April 20, 1971 in Manila, Philippines.
Parents: Francisco and Luzviminda Ilano.
Education: Immaculate Conception Academy of Manila (grades 1-3), Perpetual Help College of Rizal (4-12); Cerritos Community College; Cal State Long Beach.
Prior occupations: System administrator, software designer.
Home parish: St. Bernard, Bellflower.
Internship and Transitional Diaconate: St. Bernard (deacon).
First Mass as priest: St. Bernard, June 4, 11 a.m.
First Assignment: St. John Vianney, Hacienda Heights.
On becoming a priest: "It's been a very intense time. The mechanics of getting everything done - the classwork, the field work - is stressful. But it's all gone so fast. I came in 2000 as a pre-theology student and I can't believe it's been six years already. And it's really going to hit me on July 1, my first day as an associate. That's a Saturday, and what happens then? Confessions! So there will be no safety nets anymore.

"I think the first surprise in my journey was discerning that if God could call me to priesthood, he could call anyone. And I have discovered that whatever God wants us to do, God supports us and provides for us. I look back at our journey, and it's like we were going up a little ramp, ever so gradually - and now we look back, and the slope was so small we never noticed how far we had climbed."

Paúl Jesús Velásquez Martin
Born: July 24, 1973 in Tepatitlan, Jalisco, Mexico
Parents: Jose Jesus Velásquez Ramirez and Silvia Martin Rubio.
Education: Missionaries of the Sacred Heart High School Seminary and Mexican Institute of Priestly Formation, Mexico City.
Prior occupations: Social worker and teacher.
Home parish: Resurrection, East L.A.
Internship and Transitional Diaconate: St. John Fisher, Rancho Palos Verdes (intern); St. Julie Billiart, Newbury Park, and Resurrection (deacon).
First Assignment: St. Marianne de Parades, Pico Rivera.
On becoming a priest: "I reflect on this time, and I know that I am becoming a priest not because I want to, but because God has called me to this relationship with him and his people. So my ordination is not about me but about God and God's people. It won't be an easy life, I know; a friend told me that priesthood is like being in a marriage except that on your first day of priesthood you already have so many children. I know it will be a growth process, and I hope to continue to grow in faith and to be nourished by the people I serve, who will be our great support.

"As I near ordination, I feel nervous but happy. Priesthood is a long journey, but God helps us in the process and gives us the strength to continue, because after all he is the one who called us."