Observing my 50th year as a Catholic priest is an occasion for gratitude that I have been around long enough to see how God allows His world to develop and change.

When I was a young clerical aspirant at Saint John's Seminary, Adolfo Camarillo, then in his nineties, came one day to address the students. He gave us much to think about. One observation stands out above the others. Here is a direct quote:

"Once, when I was a youngster, my daddy took us to Los Angeles in an oxcart. It took four days to make the journey. Last week, in recognition of my giving land on which to build an Air base, they flew me by jet to Los Angeles in four minutes! Can you imagine? From four days to four minutes in a single lifetime! You young men will live to see interplanetary travel. God continues to share His wonders with us."

Recently I reflected on some of the many things that have occurred in my own lifetime.

I came along before television, before penicillin, before polio shots, frozen foods, xerox, plastic, contact lenses, zippers, Frisbees, heart transplants and the pill! My generation was born prior to radar, credit cards, split atoms, laser beams and ballpoint pens; before pantyhose, dishwashers, clothes dryers, electric blankets, air conditioners, drip-dry clothes and before man walked on the moon.

In those times closets were for clothes, not for "coming out of." Bunnies were small rabbits and not Volkswagons, Soda fountains adorned every drug-store.

We predated gay rights, computer dating, dual careers and commuter marriages. We came before day-care centers, group therapy and nursing homes.

We had never heard of FM radio, tape decks, electric typewriters, artificial hearts, word processors, yogurt and guys wearing earrings. For us, time sharing meant togetherness, not condos; a "chip" meant a piece of wood; hardware meant hardware and software wasn't even a word.

In Pre World War II, the term "making out" referred to how you did on an exam. Pizzas, fast foods and instant coffee were unheard of. There were no malls, ATMs or cell phones.

We came on the scene when there were dime stores where people bought things for five and ten cents; ice cream cones sold for a nickel; for a dime you could ride a subway, bus or streetcar, make a phone call, buy a Pepsi; or enough stamps to mail one letter and two postcards. You could purchase a new Chevy coupe for $600 and gasoline was 11 cents a gallon.

In our day, cigarette smoking was fashionable only for men, GRASS was mowed, COKE was a cold drink, POT was a vessel you cooked in, and CRACK was something you didn't step on. ROCK MUSIC was a Grandma's Lullaby.

When I was ordained, 50 years ago, all liturgical services in the Roman Catholic Church were conducted in LATIN, Fridays and other days on the liturgical calendar were MEATLESS, no Masses were offered on vigils of Sundays and Holy Days. There were no permanent deacons or extraordinary ministers, nor any Masses offered facing the people, except in the Eternal City.

We made do with what we had. Occasionally we were surprised and maybe confused, but we enjoyed it whenever the Lord pulled aside the curtain. And, thanks be to God, we became survivors!

May we rest in peace!

Msgr. Francis J. Weber, archivist for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, is among the priests of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles celebrating their golden jubilees of ordination in 2009. Msgr. Weber has authored numerous historical works on the history of the local Church, and for 33 years wrote a weekly column in The Tidings on California's Catholic Heritage.