Two natives of Korea, two Mexican-born seminarians and several Angelenos will be among eight men who will be ordained to the priesthood May 30 for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Archbishop José Gomez will ordain Gabriel Kang, Jonathon Meyer, Juan Cano, Luis Estrada, Marinello Saguin, Parker Sandoval, Raymont Medina and Simeon Song during a morning Mass celebrated at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. All have completed their theological formation at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, including recently completing service as transitional deacons and yearlong internships at parishes throughout the archdiocese.
The following are brief profiles of the new priests, who will begin their first parish assignments as associate pastors on July 1.
Joo Won Gabriel KangAge: 29 Hometown: Seoul, KoreaParents: Dae-Seung Dunstan Kang and Hyun-Sook Gertrude Lee.Home parish: St. Gregory Nazianzen, Los AngelesFirst Mass as priest: May 31 at 5 p.m., St. Gregory NazianzenFirst parish assignment: St. Kateri Tekakwitha, Santa Clarita
How did your vocation come about? When I was 5 years old, I went to Mass with my mother for the first time. In the beginning of the Mass, I saw the entering procession, and I fell in love with the priest’s vestment. I told my mother, “I want to be a priest.” Since then, I have … fallen in love with the liturgy. As I grew up, I wanted to be a part of people’s lives by celebrating the sacraments.
Who was the biggest spiritual influence in your life? Fathers Alex Chung and Mark Choi, and many parish nuns (both in Korea and the United States).
What was your favorite part of seminary? The community and my classmates.
What was the most challenging aspect of seminary? Myself. Part of formation is challenging oneself by leaving one’s comfort zone and trying new things. By doing so, I was able to know myself and work on personal growth. But it was challenging.
Is there a particular saint who inspires you? Sts. Andrew Kim Taegon, Benedict, Martin de Porres and Gabriel Ù— the Archangel Gabriel.
What do you most look forward to about becoming a priest? Having a good relationship with the people of God by loving God and loving my neighbors.
What is your advice for men discerning the priesthood? Have courage. This path is a great gift and a grace from God.
Jonathon MeyerAge: 29Hometown: TorranceParents, siblings: Gary and Susan Meyer (mother is deceased); siblings Kathryn, Jennifer and Andrew Meyer.Home parish: St. Lawrence Martyr, Redondo BeachFirst Mass as priest: May 31 at 12:15 p.m., St. Lawrence MartyrFirst parish assignment: St. John the Baptist, Baldwin Park
How did your vocation come about? I first felt the call to priesthood in middle school, but pushed it aside for most of high school and college. … The seminary gave me the space for self-discovery and deepening my relationship with Jesus, who measures love by self-gift rather than self-satisfaction. Accepting this understanding of love has revealed my vocation to the priesthood and enabled me to embrace it.
Who was the biggest spiritual influence in your life? My parents and grandfather.
What was your favorite part of seminary? The community life, fraternity.
What was the most challenging aspect of seminary? Personal growth and learning to receive God’s unconditional love.
Is there a particular saint who inspires you? St. John Paul II.
What do you most look forward to about becoming a priest? Helping others meet Jesus, celebrating the sacraments, and journeying with families and couples.
What is your advice for men discerning the priesthood? Fall in love with Jesus in Scripture and the Eucharist, fall in love with the Church in her entirety, and develop a healthy sense of self-love.
Juan CanoAge: 32Hometown: Chihuahua, MexicoParents, siblings: Jesus Manuel Cano and Celia Jasso; siblings Luz Gabriela, Jesus Manuel Jr., Antonio and Angel Cano.Home parish: St. Joseph, HawthorneFirst Mass as priest: May 31 at 12:30 p.m., St. JosephFirst parish assignment: Our Lady of Grace, Encino
How did your vocation come about? When I was born, I had a tumor in my head which had no cure. … My parents and grandparents prayed to God for a miracle. … As I grew in the faith at the parish via my family’s involvement in the charismatic renewal, Bible study and religious education, I felt very drawn to the Eucharist, both in and outside of Mass. In addition, I had daily contact with the parish priests. … It was such things that I know fed my priestly vocation.
Who was the biggest spiritual influence in your life? My grandmother, Juanita Cano, has been my biggest influence in this realm … spending hours with her praying the rosary or reading bible passages until one of us would fall asleep.
What was your favorite part of seminary? My favorite time was when I was with my community, my friends who have become my brothers, with whom I will be journeying on as priest.
What was the most challenging aspect of seminary? The biggest one was remaining open to God’s will when receiving recommendations from the faculty.
What do you most look forward to about becoming a priest? I look forward to sharing the journey of faith with my family, friends and parishioners as I say Mass, give absolution, and anoint the sick — being a symbol of hope, mercy, joy and love to those whom I will be walking with and serving as a priest.
What is your advice for men discerning the priesthood? Try your best to always love your family and God’s people, stay loyal to your prayer, seek the sacrament of reconciliation, have a spiritual director, attend daily Mass, have priests as mentors, have a support group and make time to be on your own.
Luis Estrada RiveraAge: 42Hometown: Guanajuato, MexicoParents: Ramon Estrada (deceased) and Maria Carmen Rivera; 13 siblings.Home parish: St. John of God, NorwalkFirst Mass as priest: May 31 at 9:30 a.m. (English) and 12:30 p.m. (Spanish), St. John of GodFirst parish assignment: Our Lady Queen of Angels, Los Angeles
How did your vocation come about? I have been aware of my desire to be a priest since I was about 12 years old, which I attribute to my parents for introducing me to the Catholic faith and my pastor, Father Jaime. … After being exposed to different occupations throughout my life I have discovered that doing ministry in the Church is where God is calling me to be.
Who was the biggest spiritual influence in your life? My parents, and Fathers Jaime, Bernie Leheny, Ed Dober and James Halley.
What was your favorite part of seminary? It was the community life. I had plentiful opportunities to practice my social skills and build solid friendships.
What was the most challenging aspect of seminary? It was the intellectual formation, since English is my second language.
Is there a particular saint who inspires you? St. John Vianney, who also faced many challenges during his formation to the priesthood.
What do you most look forward to about becoming a priest? I see my priesthood as participating in a marathon, a race that resembles our Christian lives in so many ways. … As a priest, I foresee myself as an active participant in life’s race, walking or running side by side with you, my brothers and sisters, who are thirsty and exhausted by the long run. … Together, we will make it to the finish line, where our Lord Jesus Christ is waiting for us to celebrate with us.
What is your advice for men discerning the priesthood? There may be some doubts and fears in the way. Don’t let them be impediments to discover your true and divine calling in your life. Contact me or your local priest and share with him your deepest desires to serve God’s people. We will guide you step by step to discern your vocation.
Marinello Ruel SaguinAge: 30Hometown: Los AngelesParents: Ruel Aguila Saguin (deceased) and Marilyn Cervantes Saguin.Home parish: Holy Family, GlendaleFirst Mass as priest: May 31 at 11 a.m., Holy FamilyFirst parish assignment: St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Lomita
How did your vocation come about? The thought of a priestly vocation came when I was in second grade in preparation to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation … That was one moment among many that I felt I could serve God joyfully. From then I continued to remain open in ways he was calling me, through my prayer, involvement at parish, in school, getting to know different priests, doing service ministries and retreats.
Who was the biggest spiritual influence in your life? The biggest spiritual influence in my life would be my grandmother. When I was growing up she sat me next to her and we would pray the rosary or a novena. She showed me the power of having a loving uncomplicated relationship with the Lord that meant being still and just being present.
What was your favorite part of seminary? My favorite part of seminary was the opportunities we had to build community in formal and informal settings. One way that took place was through Jesus Caritas meetings that met once a month. We got to share experiences, reflect on the Scriptures, and just enjoy knowing that we had a group who would listen. … In those moments we were being restored so that we could give more of ourselves to our prayer, studies, ministries and community.
What was the most challenging aspect of seminary? The most challenging aspect of seminary formation, and yet at the same time the most fruitful, was doing the work of human formation. … Getting to know myself — who I am, my weaknesses, my strengths — all of this is necessary so that I could learn the skills to being a wholly-integrated man who knows that I am a work in progress.
Is there a particular saint who inspires you? Blessed Francisco Palau, a Discalced Carmelite friar from Barcelona, who is known for his great love for the Church. … He said, “I live and will live for the Church; I live and will die for her.”
What do you most look forward to about becoming a priest? I will look forward to celebrating the Eucharist with the people of God and being a part of their lives. … Priesthood is all about being poured out, not only when we administer the sacraments, but when we go to that sick bed, to the prayer group, to the school and shake the hand of the poor, interview an engaged couple and bury the dead.
What is your advice for men discerning the priesthood? I encourage him not to be afraid of the unexpected. He must come and see what this life is about. It is not about giving up; rather it is about knowing and experiencing conversion… A priest must have the heart to receive and give love! After all, he is a father to his people, who is pointing them to a reward that is beyond this life.
Parker SandovalAge: 33Hometown: Woodland HillsParents, siblings: Arturo and Trisha Sandoval; siblings Taylor and Cassidee Sandoval.Home parish: St. Bernardine of Siena Church, Woodland HillsFirst Mass as priest: May 31 at 5:30 p.m., St. Bernardine of SienaFirst parish assignment: Resurrection Church, Los Angeles
How did your vocation come about? If someone had asked me at age 5, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I would have replied, “I want to be a priest.” My early attraction to the Scriptures and the liturgy was the seed of my vocation. … Accompanying my parents to Mass each Sunday I became enamored of the Eucharist. It wasn’t long before I would “play Mass” on a regular basis.
Who was the biggest spiritual influence in your life? My grandma, Pat Fries, has been the greatest spiritual influence in my life. She is a woman who knows the love of Jesus, his for her and hers for him.
What was your favorite part of seminary? My favorite moments in seminary were the everyday experiences of fraternity among seminarians, [who] do not journey on their own, but walk alongside a company of brothers. Seeing the Holy Spirit at work in each other has been an incredible blessing.
What was the most challenging aspect of seminary? My greatest challenge in seminary was writing my thesis (“Evangelization: The Church’s Best-kept Secret”) while still engaging my other responsibilities. This three-year process demanded much discipline, but my passion for the topic sustained me.
Is there a particular saint who inspires you? St. Paul is the model evangelizer who inspires me by his fervor and conviction in announcing to the nations that Jesus Christ is Lord.
What do you most look forward to about becoming a priest? With the grace of the Holy Spirit, I hope to be an evangelizing priest with the heart and mind of Jesus. I look forward to introducing and reintroducing people to Jesus Christ, especially by the ministry of the Word and the celebration of the Eucharist.
What is your advice for men discerning the priesthood? Listen to Jesus in the Gospels, speak to Jesus in prayer and serve Jesus in the poor.
Raymont Marx MedinaAge: 29Hometown: TorranceParents: Roderico and Luzviminda Medina; sister Lorraine Medina.Home parish: St. Philomena, CarsonFirst Mass as priest: May 31 at 9:15 a.m., St. PhilomenaFirst parish assignment: Sacred Heart, Lancaster
How did your vocation come about? The thought of priesthood dawned on me through the example of a priest-uncle who was caring for my ailing grandfather. Priesthood seemed to be the service, fulfillment and joy my heart was seeking. After much prayer and discernment, I knew that I had to answer God’s call.
Who was the biggest spiritual influence in your life? Jesus.
What was your favorite part of seminary? The seminary community is my favorite part. It is a great blessing to journey with such amazing men who deeply love Jesus and desire to serve their brothers and sisters in Christ. They inspire me to grow deeper in my relationship with Jesus and be a better missionary disciple.
What was the most challenging aspect of seminary? The most challenging aspect of seminary is me; I am my biggest challenge. It takes a lot of courage and humility to face the aspects of my life — whether spiritual, academic, pastoral or human — that could be better, and to say ‘yes’ to God’s transformative grace.
Is there a particular saint who inspires you? St. Joseph has been an inspiration for me throughout my seminary formation … In many ways, his focus is simple: to do the will of God.
What do you most look forward to about becoming a priest? I am looking forward to two things as a priest: serving the people and celebrating the sacraments. … In this service, my hope is to be nothing more than an instrument of encountering he who is Lord and Savior, shepherd and king.
What is your advice for men discerning the priesthood? Stay close to Jesus, most especially through the Eucharist and through the words of Scripture. Fall in love with the one who has called us to this vocation. … This will guide us and give us the courage to say ‘yes’ to our own unique calling.
Simeon Yong-joo SongAge: 40Hometown: Pusan, South KoreaParents, siblings: Hwa-jun Song and Sam-shim Lee; siblings Jong-joo, Young-joo, Bok-joo, and Sung-ki.Home parish: St. Raphael Korean Catholic Center, NorwalkFirst Mass as priest: May 31 at 12 p.m., St. Raphael Korean Catholic CenterFirst parish assignment: Holy Family, Glendale
How did your vocation come about? As a second-grader was the first time I thought that I could be a priest someday.
Who was the biggest spiritual influence in your life? My mother. She taught and showed me how to love.
What was your favorite part of seminary? Because I was from a different country, everything was new and surprising.
What was the most challenging aspect of seminary? For the same reason stated above, everything was challenging.
Is there a particular saint who inspires you? Mother Mary.
What do you most look forward to about becoming a priest? God is love, so I look forward to exercising his love to people.
What is your advice for men discerning the priesthood? I believe that everybody is called to the ministry of priesthood, so we (even an already-priest) discern about it, and it is given only to those who made a decision. To be a priest is not about how many years you have to study in seminary, what kind of class you have to take, or what talents and potentials you should have to be a priest, but simply about your yes to the call and the love of God.
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