Pope Benedict XVI has accorded the papal honor of Chaplain to His Holiness (monsignor) to three priests of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for their special service to the Church.

They are:
---Reverend Monsignor Joseph F. Hernandez, pastor, St. Teresa of Avila Church in the Silverlake area, and Vice Chancellor of the Archdiocese since 2004. A Los Angeles native, he was ordained a priest from St. John's Seminary in 1981.

---Reverend Monsignor Laurence J. Spiteri, director of the Legal Affairs Office of the Vatican Library, and Judge of the Court of First Instance for the Diocese of Rome. He was ordained a priest in 1978.

---Reverend Monsignor Marc V. Trudeau, Priest Secretary to Cardinal Roger Mahony since 2005. A graduate of St. Finbar School, Burbank, he was ordained a priest from St. John's Seminary in 1991.

"All three of these priests have accepted an invitation to serve our local Church of Los Angeles and of the Holy See, and all have carried out their responsibilities with great dedication, competence and pastoral concern," said Cardinal Roger Mahony. "These priests represent the extraordinary high quality of our Presbyterate, and we thank them for their dedication to their various ministries and pastoral concern for the People of God."