On May 31 I had the honor and privilege of attending the ordination of 12 new priests in our archdiocese. As we stood in line in the Cathedral courtyard to greet and receive the first blessing from our friend, Father Tim Klosterman, I was approached by staff writer Paula Doyle from The Tidings who asked a few questions about Father Tim.

I was suddenly overwhelmed as I realized she was going to record my statement and thought to myself, "How can I possibly sum up in 30 seconds how proud we are of him and how much he means to all of us?"

I first met Father Tim in the summer of 2002. I had heard his name many times as "Tim, the seminarian" because his family belongs to our parish, St. Mary in Palmdale. During that summer, I was struggling with a diagnosis of cancer within my bone marrow. After months of chemotherapy I was told the disease was currently under control, but was not curable. I was scared, exhausted and disappointed.

Then one day I received a message from a young man by the name of Tim Klosterman. He was attending World Youth Day in Toronto and wanted me to know he was praying for me there. His message brought a comfort to my heart that I can not describe. My spirit was lifted at the thought of prayers coming from someone, this young seminarian, who I had never even met.

After Tim arrived home from his trip he left another message saying he would like to meet because he had a gift for me. My husband Tony and I met him at McAdam Park where Tim worked as a lifeguard. He had brought to me a rosary that had been blessed by Pope John Paul II and asked if he could pray it with us --- right there, in the locker room. The three of us joined hands and Tim led us in prayer. The prayers lifted up that summer evening began a friendship that I treasure.

Knowing Tim's love for children, I invited him to come that Fall and visit my Kindergarten class at St. Mary School. He accepted and came countless times over the next few years. He spoke to the children about Jesus and his love for his faith. He would read stories to them and pray with them. He even tried patiently to teach them how to play football --- a difficult concept for five-year-olds.

I don't think any of my students ever learned to play football, but what they did learn was far more important: You can be a young person, have fun and still be on fire with your love for Jesus. In fact, it was even cool to want to be a priest. He visited the rest of the students in the other grades as well, and that same message was loud and clear.

One of the moments I was most proud of him was found in a writing assignment last year during National Vocations week. One of the boys in Kindergarten dictated this essay to me:

When I get bigger I want to be a priest like Tim is going to be.
A priest gives his life to God.
A priest baptizes and prays and has time to talk to kids.
The best thing a priest does is he takes care of people who are sick or sad.
He tells them that God loves them.
Even better than that.
He shows them that God loves them.
So I want to be a priest, too.

Over the past six years I have watched as this young seminarian has grown in wisdom and grace. It was an honor to see him Ordained, to witness his first Mass, and to see the radiance that shown from his face.

The Tidings interviewer asked if I thought Father Tim would make a good priest. It was hard to sum up the many reasons I know he will, but I guess the most important reason is because God has truly chosen him, and he has said "Yes" with his whole heart.

God bless you, Father Tim. What a privilege and blessing it is to know you. You will remain in our hearts and prayers always.

Therese Corsaro attends St. Mary Church, Palmdale.