Four priests and one layman were honored Sept. 21 as Distinguished Alumni of St. John's Seminary at the institution's inaugural Alumni Dinner in Camarillo.

The group included retired Monterey Bishop Sylvester Ryan, a former Los Angeles auxiliary bishop ordained in 1957; three pastors emeritus --- Msgr. John Hughes, of St. Mary Magdalen Church, Camarillo (1949); Msgr. Richard Murray, of St. Bernardine of Sienna Church, Woodland Hills (1943); and Msgr. John Sheridan, of Our Lady of Malibu Church, Malibu (1943) --- and Louis Velasquez who serves in the Office of the Vicar for Clergy of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

With more than 200 priests, religious and supporters of St. John's in attendance, the quintet was honored for many years of service to the communities in which they have ministered and for their dedication to the Catholic Church. The four priests were ordained from St. John's, while Velasquez is an alumnus of the seminary college.

Each of the five were presented by a friend and colleague and received standing ovations as they came forward to receive their tile plaque awards, designed by liturgical artist Isabel Piczek and bearing the eagle that is a symbol of St. John, the seminary's patron saint. The awards dinner followed a Vespers service in the seminary chapel with Cardinal Roger Mahony presiding.

Msgr. Hughes, said Father Leon Hutton, St. John's director of human formation, has followed the call of Pope John Paul II to "preach the word of God by living it" for nearly 60 years of priesthood. "You truly are a pastor, one who leads others to Jesus Christ," said Father Hutton. "You offer reassurance and the certainty of God's love to all you serve."

In his acceptance remarks, Msgr. Hughes noted that his prayer for his own priesthood "was to be of service to others in a parish. And they have truly been years of joy, happiness and peace."

Father Austin Doran, pastor of Our Lady of Grace Church in Encino and a former associate under Msgr. Murray at St. Bernardine's, praised his mentor's faithfulness, creativity and caring for others. "He has been faithful to his community, to his priesthood, and to Jesus," he said. "He is a credit to the seminary and to his vocation."

The 93-year-old Msgr. Murray recalled his seminary classmates, the late Msgrs. James O'Callaghan and Emmett McCarthy, with whom he would hunt, fish and golf. "These activities gave us a bond," Msgr. Murray recalled. "When problems came up, we would help one another, like family. And that's what we are as church; we are family, and a family pitches in to help."

Msgr. Gregory Cox, executive director of Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, noted that his friend Bishop Ryan had benefited from loving parents, a great pastor (Msgr. John Brennan) and from growing up on Santa Catalina Island. "To whom much is given, much is expected," he noted. "And Bishop Ryan has truly given us so much in return, as priest, bishop, teacher and friend."

Bishop Ryan, a former St. John's rector, thanked the bishops for whom he has served "for keeping the focus of this seminary on the formation of men for the priesthood, on forming the core of their souls. It has been a marvelous gift for me to have been part of this seminary; I can't imagine anything richer, and I hope all who have been here appreciate it as I have."

Msgr. Tobias English, one of Msgr. Sheridan's former associate pastors at Our Lady of Malibu Church, expressed his appreciation for having served with his fellow native of Ireland, whom he called "deeply sensitive to all he came into contact with. Your hearth and home was always a gathering place for friends and parishioners, and your parish never wanted for commitment, ideas or charity."

Msgr. Sheridan gave thanks for having been among the first to be ordained from St. John's. "I am filled with gratitude for this place, for those who taught us, for those who were taught," he said. "So many different kinds of people were formed here. I truly feel the presence of all them, and I join tonight with the alumni of St. John's, wherever they are, in saying, 'What can I give to God for all he has given me?'"

In introducing Velasquez, Auxiliary Bishop Gabino Zavala noted that his longtime friend's political background as a former Fullerton city councilman had served him well in his ministry with the archdiocese, in the Office of Hispanic Ministry as well as the Vicar for Clergy's Office. Moreover, "Louis is a man of profound faith, a man with great love for our church; a man trusted, respected and committed to the work of the church."

Velasquez noted that while he discerned that, after college, he was not called to the ordained priesthood, he was proud to live out his call to the "baptismal priesthood." Furthermore, he said, "you never really leave the seminary. You never forget the friendships you have made. I am forever indebted to the great teachers I had here, the Vincentians and the others who made us love learning for the rest of our lives. To the current seminarians, I say, enjoy every day you are here. You will remember and treasure it the rest of your lives."