"A pastor never forgets to pray for his people," Msgr. Kevin Kostelnik told the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels congregation last Sunday after the 10 a.m. Mass. "And so I will take you to Notre Dame with me, where I'm going to learn and study and refresh myself, and, of course, watch some football games."

When the applause died down, the Cathedral's first pastor --- preparing for a four-month sabbatical --- quipped, "And as I have the microphone, I have the last word. And I get to play one last song." Turning to organist Sal Soria, he said, "So Sal, hit it."

The rousing Notre Dame fight song blasted out of the Dobson pipe organ's five-story metal and wood pipes.

Then, in a surprise ceremony, Councilwoman Jan Perry presented Msgr. Kostelnik with a City of Los Angeles official proclamation, which praised the pastor for his commitment not only to the archdiocese's mother church, but also to the City of Los Angeles and the Southland.

"Msgr. Kostelnik's pastoral duties and responsibilities extend beyond the Cathedral's parish borders and even beyond our city limits to the greater Southern California Roman Catholic community," she declared. "The City Council of Los Angeles extends its most heartfelt thanks to Msgr. Kevin Kostelnik for his leadership and dedication to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angeles, it's parishioners and visitors."

Appointed by Cardinal Roger Mahony in 1997 as the cathedral's founding pastor, Msgr. Kostelnik helped preside over its opening ceremony in December 2002. He also served at the cardinal's priest secretary for nearly 10 years, starting in 1989.

Born in Lorain, Ohio, he grew up Hacienda Heights, and was ordained in 1982 from St. John's Seminary in Camarillo. He served as an associate pastor in two local parishes and was named a chaplain to his holiness (monsignor) in 1992, the same year he received a master's degree in liturgical studies at the University of Notre Dame.

After the ceremony, Msgr. Kostelnik told The Tidings he was taking a sabbatical for a couple of reasons.

"First of all, I really would like to become fluent in conversational Spanish skills," he said. "I celebrate the Spanish Mass here, but I really would like to become fluent in hearing confessions and giving homilies.

"Secondly, it was a privileged position to be part of the cathedral's design team, construction team and dedication team - and then to be the first pastor. So I want to write a couple of articles about that experience. And this place is so busy, you just can't do that here."

One of the greatest - and unexpected - joys he's had as the founding pastor of the Cathedral overlooking the Hollywood Freeway is being an integral part of the formation of a parish community.

With the rising number of people moving into lofts, condos and apartments downtown, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels has seen its parishioner base jump from 40 registered holdover households from St. Vibiana's, the former cathedral, to almost 550 households. And some 20 people --- half of them young adults --- have signed up to begin the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation) process at the Cathedral.

"The role of a pastor is to be with the people of God," Msgr. Kostelnik explained. "I think everybody is hungry today for Jesus Christ in their lives. And so, the pastor has to play an important role in not only preparing for liturgy, but also in being steadfast and praying, and working hard on homilies that relate to people's lives and to the issues of the world.

"I am looking forward to going back to Notre Dame. It's a second home. I did five summers of study and hard work to receive a master's degree in liturgical studies. And I think Notre Dame is one of the most Catholic spiritual campuses.

"I'm hoping to not only improve my Spanish," he added, "but to become renewed intellectually and spiritually, so I can serve the people of God here in Los Angeles even better."