Wearing a jaunty tweed cap befitting a native Irishman, Msgr. Peter O'Sullivan, pastor emeritus of St. John Baptist de La Salle Church in Granada Hills, was the guest of honor last week at a gathering in Culver City celebrating the 75th anniversary of his priestly ordination.

According to Cardinal Roger Mahony, who presided at the June 9 concelebrated Mass at Marycrest Manor attended by more than 25 longtime de la Salle parishioners and several clergy and religious, the celebration was the first of its kind in the archdiocese.

"We celebrate today the extraordinary life and ministry of someone with 75 years of priesthood. It's really very rare. As far as I know in the archdiocese, it's a first --- and a blessed first," said Cardinal Mahony.

Though hard-of-hearing and confined to a wheelchair, Msgr. O'Sullivan had been looking forward to the celebration, according to parishioner Marty Rocha, who has served as his post-retirement secretary since 1987.

Ordained at St. Patrick's College in Thurles, Ireland, on June 10, 1934, Msgr. O'Sullivan followed his older brother, the late Msgr. Thomas O'Sullivan --- founding pastor of Visitation Church in Westchester --- to Los Angeles.

Msgr. Peter, who turns 99 on July 4, currently holds the same honorary title of priest "patriarch" (oldest in year of ordination and age among archdiocesan priests) that his brother held before his death at age 92 in 1997.

Immigrating to Los Angeles a month after his ordination, Msgr. O'Sullivan's first assignment was as assistant pastor of St. Mary Magdalen Church in Los Angeles. He later assisted at Holy Cross and St. Sebastian, and was chaplain at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in Downey.

His first pastorate was St. Rose of Lima in Simi Valley in the early 1950s. In 1954, he was named pastor of the year-old St. John Baptist de la Salle at the corner of Chatsworth Street and Hayvenhurst Avenue.

"He took the parish census by himself, walking around those onion fields and orange groves in his black trousers and white shirt, carrying a clipboard," said Geraldine McGrath, a founding parishioner and parish music director who cantored at the anniversary Mass along with another founding parishioner, Charleen Bennett.

Longtime De La Salle parishioner Sandra Cassidy, whose son, Peter Joseph, is named after Msgr. O'Sullivan, fondly remembers monsignor's visits to her childhood home on New Year's Day and his birthday --- the Fourth of July --- where he liked to share jokes and stories.

Father Joe Shea, pastor of St. Rose of Lima parish who served as an altar boy at De La Salle when Msgr. O'Sullivan was pastor, said the priest's 32-year pastorate, which included overseeing the building of the parish church, school, convent and rectory, was inspirational.

"There's not an inch of that property, and, more importantly, tens of thousands of people, that weren't shaped by his incredible dynamism. He's one of my great heroes," said Father Shea.

Msgr. James Loughnane, pastor of St. Denis Church in Diamond Bar who served his first assignment at De La Salle under Msgr. O'Sullivan, said he was impressed by his former pastor's prayerfulness, keen sense of hospitality and administrative skills. He noted that he personally had never experienced a 75th anniversary for a priest. "It's a great day," declared Msgr. Loughnane.