All priesthood ordinations are special, but for Cardinal Timothy Manning, June 16, 1984 was a particularly momentous occasion.

In addition to ordaining a large group of young men from St. John's Seminary in Camarillo to the priesthood in St. Vibiana Cathedral, the day marked Cardinal Manning's golden jubilee of ordination. It was June 16, 1934 --- same time, same sanctuary --- that Bishop John J. Cantwell had ordained the young man from Ballingeary, Ireland, for the archdiocese of Los Angeles, where he would serve all but two of his priestly years until his death in 1989.

Of the men ordained by Cardinal Manning that day in St. Vibiana's --- during the sixth year of Pope John Paul II's almost 27-year pontificate, and just seven weeks before the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles --- nine are celebrating silver jubilees of priesthood in 2009. Also marking 25 years of priesthood are four priests who have been incardinated since their ordination; three "extern" priests (on loan from other dioceses); and ten religious order priests.

Following are brief profiles of those diocesan priests celebrating silver jubilees:

St. John's Seminary
Msgr. Paul Albee, a native of Pasadena born in 1958, has been pastor of Holy Cross Church, Moorpark, since 2005, and is currently dean of Deanery 4. He served as associate at several parishes, including St. Rose of Lima, Simi Valley, and was pastor of Nativity, Torrance before a six-year service as priest-secretary for Cardinal Roger Mahony. "It has been an incredible, grace-filled journey."

Msgr. Charles Chaffman, born in Los Angeles in 1956 attended St. Luke School, Temple City, and Queen of Angels Seminary High School, Mission Hills. Having served in several positions in the Tribunal and has studied in Rome, he is now the Judicial Vicar for the archdiocese, and is in residence at Christ the King Church, Hollywood. "My highlight has been the challenge of ministering during this time of limited financial resources and finding new ways of doing God's work in the Tribunal, Christ the King parish and educating the faithful through the International Institute of Tribunal Studies."

Father Edwin Duyshart is from Buffalo, N.Y., born in 1958. He attended Arcadia High School. He served as associate at Assumption, Pasadena; St. Frances of Rome, Azusa; and studied at the Catholic University in Belgium. Since 1998 he has been pastor at St. Elizabeth, Altadena. "Serving God's people as a priest has been a joy, challenge and a blessing. It has been a time to grow in faith with all my sisters and brothers."

Father John Fahey is a native Angeleno, born in 1932. He graduated from Loyola High School, attended the U.S. Naval Academy and USC, and retired from the Naval reserve as Commander. For 18 years he served as a coach and math teacher at Mary Star of the Sea High School, San Pedro. In retirement he serves as chaplain for the Holy Cross Sisters in Ventura. "My first Mass was a high point in these years and everything else has been trying to do the best I can with a lot of ups and downs."

Father David Gallardo was born in Santa Monica in 1958. As associate he served at several parishes, and taught at Bishop Amat, Junipero Serra and Queen of Angels Seminary high schools. In 2004 he was named pastor of St. Mariana de Paredes, Pico Rivera. "The highlight of my 25 years has been the years I spent in high school ministry. The faith and spirituality of the youth had a definite impact in my priesthood."

Msgr. Gabriel Gonzales is a native of Culver City, born in 1958. He has served as the Vicar for Clergy since 2006 after a three-year term as assistant. After serving at St. Mark, Venice, and St. Joseph, La Puente, he was pastor of Sacred Heart, L.A. for eight years and has served on the priest personnel board. "I feel so blessed to be called to the priesthood and so grateful for my six-year ministry working with and for priests."

Father Jon Majarucon was born in Mojave, in 1957. He has served at St. Jerome, L.A., and St. Mark, Venice, and was a teacher and administrator at St. Monica, Bishop Amat and St. Bernard high schools. In 2002 he was named pastor of Santa Clara Church, Oxnard, and is currently dean of Deanery 3. "I am so grateful for years as faculty and administrator in high schools, a priceless experience. All priests should serve in a Catholic high school to learn structure, accountability and administrative skills."

Father Modesto Perez is a native of Havana, Cuba, born in 1948. He has a M.Div. degree in law from University of Davis, and was associate pastor at San Buenaventura Mission, Ventura. He has served as the vice chancellor and on the faculty of St. John's Seminary and the Tribunal. He is the director of the Cursillo Movement in the archdiocese, and pastor of All Souls Church, Alhambra, since 2004. "Cursillos has been a part of my life and, indeed, led me to my vocation. It has been both the inspiration and anchor of my priestly ministry. I give praise and glory to God for all these years."

Auxiliary Bishop Alexander Salazar is a native of San Jose, Costa Rica, born in 1949. He has served as pastor of St. Teresa of Avila for nine years, on the personnel board, and as vice chancellor. In 2004 he was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of the San Pedro Region. "The happiest day of my life was receiving the gift of priesthood by Cardinal Timothy Manning. I relive that day each time I celebrate the Eucharist. It is a blessing to be able to serve and often I recall the words of Cardinal Manning's homily: 'God's will does not always coincide with our will and which inevitably means the Cross.'"

Incardinated priests
These priests were ordained in 1984 for other dioceses or religious orders and have petitioned to be archdiocesan ministers.

Father Mauricio Goloran was born in the Philippines in 1956. He serves at St. Martha, Valinda, and was at St. Catherine Laboure, Torrance, and Immaculate Heart of Mary, L.A. He was incardinated in 2007. "I believe my priesthood is like 'clay in the hand of the potter,' constantly being shaped that what will come out will be the design of the potter."

Father Rolly Jardiniano is a native of the Philippines, born in 1958. He was incardinated in 2007 and has served at Sacred Heart, Covina; Holy Family, Artesia; and currently at Holy Trinity, San Pedro. On July 1 he will become administrator pro tempore at St. Euphrasia, Granada Hills. "God has allowed me to serve his people for 22 years in the archdiocese in five parishes and I thank all who have journeyed with me in faith."

Father Hugo Neyra is from Peru, born in 1956. He has served at St. Alphonsus, L.A.; St. Hilary, Pico Rivera and San Francisco, East L.A. He is an associate at St. Joseph the Worker, Winnetka, and was incardinated in 2002.

Father Kevin Rettig was born in Munich, Germany, in 1958. As both associate and administrator he served at St. Stephen of Hungary Church for 19 years while a member of the Norbertine Fathers. He was incardinated in 2005 and is pastor of St. Joseph the Worker, Winnetka. "The experience of being one with the people --- a part of their life in joyous times and difficult --- that is what makes it all worthwhile and THAT is the Church."

Extern priests
Extern priests are those "on loan" who belong to other dioceses but who minister in the L.A. Archdiocese with permission of their own bishops.

Father Eduardo Garcia from the Philippines, born in 1954, has served at St. Mary, Palmdale, since 2003.

Father Jozef Mitek is a native of Poland, born in 1959 and has served the past year at St. John Baptist de La Salle, Granada Hills.

Father Victor Ramos was born in Peru in 1955. Since 2003 he was served at St. Francis Xavier, Pico Rivera, and Mother of Sorrows and St. Malachy, L.A.

Religious Order
Religious order priests observing jubilees celebrate with their individual communities.

Vincentian Provincial Father Andrew Bellisario, Montebello.

Jesuit Father Gregory Boyle, Homeboy Industries, L.A.

Redemptorist Father Jose Chavez, St. Mary of the Assumption, Whittier.

Franciscan Father William Haney, St. Joseph Friary, L.A.

Capuchin Franciscan Father Anthony Howard, Sacred Heart Retreat House, Alhambra.

Missionary of St. Francis Xavier Father Lawrence Joseph, St. Dorothy, Glendora.

Oblate of Virgin Mary Father John Lyons, St. Peter Chanel, Hawaiian Gardens.

Vincentian Father Victor Pacheco, Holy Family, Artesia.

Dominican Father Paul Raftery, St. Dominic Priory, L.A.

Capuchin Franciscan Father Kevin Schindler-McGraw, St. Lawrence Martyr, Redondo Beach.

Editor's note: Information for this article was gathered from the Vicar for Clergy's Office and interviews with diocesan priests. If any additional priests serving in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles are celebrating silver jubilees in 2009, please contact Hermine Lees: hlees@the-tidings.com.