The Society of Mary (Marianists) celebrated Father Theodore Ley’s 60th jubilee of profession of vows on June 8 in Cupertino, California. The 78-year-old priest, who was born and grew up in Los Angeles, served most of his six-decade clerical ministry in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Ley attended Holy Spirit and St. Joan of Arc elementary schools in Los Angeles and Chaminade College Preparatory (high school) in West Hills. In 1963, he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Chaminade University in Honolulu, Hawaii, and later entered the seminary at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. He completed his seminary studies at Saint Louis University in Missouri and on Jan. 23, 1971, was ordained at St. Bernardine of Siena Church in Woodland Hills.
During his time as associate pastor and parish administrator of St. Anthony of Padua and associate pastor of Maria Regina parishes in Gardena, he was a teacher, community director, choir founder, youth minister and family life minister. Later he served as associate pastor and parish administrator at St. Ann Parish in Los Angeles. He also earned a doctorate of musical arts in music education at the University of Southern California, and in 1976 founded the Schola Cantorum of the Pacific, where he continues to serve as director and teacher.
Starting in 1978, Ley was a professor and spiritual director at St. John Seminary in Camarillo. And he served as chaplain from 2001 to 2007 and again from 2009 to 2011 at Chaminade College Preparatory.
Currently, Ley is on his third ministry as senior chaplain of Chaminade College Preparatory and community director of West Hills Marianists. Currently, Ley is on his third ministry as senior chaplain of Chaminade College Preparatory and community director of West Hills Marianists.
“My consistent joy is daily priestly ministry in our community at West Hills and with Chaminade middle and high schools,” he said. “I am very grateful to the first brothers who welcomed me into the Marianist family so long ago. And the many religious and laity with whom I have been privileged to partake in the Marian calling in today’s very needed world.”
R.W. Dellinger is the features editor for Angelus.
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