At the April 2 Chrism Mass in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, eight men celebrating half a century of priesthood were honored by Cardinal Roger Mahony, hundreds of their fellow priests and the 3,000-plus congregation. With two others unable to attend the evening service, the number of years celebrated by the golden jubilarians, ordained in 1957, tallied 500 years of priestly ministry.

This year's jubilarians are retired Monterey (and former Los Angeles Auxiliary) Bishop Sylvester Ryan, Msgrs. Eugene Gilb and Jerome Schmit, and Fathers Thomas Acton, George Brincat, Edward Landreau, George O'Brien, Henry Johnson and Jesuit Fathers George Aziz and John McAnulty.

One was born in Ireland (Father Acton, County Down), another on the Mediterranean island of Malta (Father Brincat) and another on Santa Catalina Island (Bishop Ryan). Only Msgr. Gilb is a native "mainland" Angeleno. One served in World War II (Father McNulty, Army infantry in the Pacific). And Msgr. Gilb was secretary to Cardinal James Francis McIntye.

Almost all agreed their five decades as a priest had passed quickly. "When I first got ordained, I was just praying that I would last for five years, because I was nervous and everything," quipped 73-year-old Father Acton before the Chrism Mass. "And now it's 50 years gone by, and the last 25 have especially been a flash."

Father Brincat, also 73, said he could not believe he'd ever arrive at this milestone. And Msgr. Schmit, 76, was eager to begin his next 50 years as a priest. "I've been really, really fortunate with good health and great stamina yet," he reported. "And whatever's out there, I'm ready for it and still enthusiastic for any job."

Looking back, Bishop Ryan said his life of ministry seemed to have raced by. He liked to remember - and savor - his old parish, high school, St. John's Seminary, auxiliary bishop and bishop of Monterey assignments.

"The main thing, of course, is all the people that you have met and who have been part of your life and who have enabled you to grow as a priest," he said. "The major joy is always for diocesan priests or bishops to be with people and to be able to work with people.

"You're walking the whole of life with people, going from birth 'til death," he pointed out. "And you're at all those instances of people's lives where something truly significant is happening."

For Father Aziz - who logged years of parish work besides teaching philosophy and producing a TV program on Christianity today - the main job of a priest is serving people spiritually, trying to encourage them, especially in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

"Plus you're there every Sunday, and you prepare your homilies very carefully," the 79-year-old Jesuit said. "So it's a long-term type of joy. It's a way of life that's of service to people on a level that is very high. And people appreciate it."

Father Acton, pastor emeritus of Maria Regina in Gardena, said he enjoyed meeting different folks from various walks of life and nations around the world. Father Schmit liked seeing new lay leadership develop in ministries such as the Rite of Christian Initiation and music, especially at inner-city parishes like St. Brigid, Nativity and Holy Name of Jesus, where he served for 33 years.

"I love to see gospel music emerge - that's been a great joy to me," he said. "I really enjoyed working with minorities, the African Americans and now the Latinos. Spanish has really challenged me in the last 10 years. Otherwise, this would be a piece of cake at this point in your life."

The golden jubilarians also agreed they had significantly changed themselves over the last 50 years. "I think I've become a little more humble," said Msgr. Schmit with a knowing grin. "When I first started off, I knew all the things I was going to change in the world and the diocese. And now I'm more convinced that they happen with the Lord and not with any of us. I'm just one of the pegs in place."

Father Aziz believed he had matured personally as well as pastorally over the years. "I understand people better and I see differences in how people look at things," he explained. "I'm very interested in understanding how other people see things. My basic joy in the priesthood is to serve God, of course, and human beings in their struggle."

Father Brincat, who was ordained at 23 in Malta and came to the United States in 1962, hoped his own life transformations mirrored the church's. In retirement, the retired pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, Tujunga, has more time to devote to prayer and reflection. "I've seen a lot of changes and hope I have grown, too," he said. "There have been good people who help you and guide you."

Change is part of nature, Father Action observed. "When we were first ordained, we were saying Mass in Latin facing the altar," he recalled. "And, so, it's been just phenomenal the changes. We had to deal with that. So, yes, I've changed a lot."