Deacon Jimmy Salas died Thursday, June 10, 2021, one day short of the 5th anniversary of his ordination.
Jimmy Salas was born in Los Angeles in 1952, the second of five children. He married the love of his life, Lupe, in 1978. They were blessed with three children, and raised them together in Wilmington, where they lived happily for 14 years.
Jimmy was always a devout Catholic and attended Mass every Sunday at Holy Family Church. In 1993, the Salas family moved to the city of Lakewood, and eventually made St Cyprian Church their new home. Jimmy was involved in various ministries throughout his lifetime. The ones closest to his heart were the Cursillo Movement, Kairos prison ministry, and taking Communion to the homebound.
In 2001, at the age of 49, Jimmy lost both legs from complications of diabetes, but he did not allow that to keep him from doing God’s work. He quickly re-immersed himself in all those ministries that he loved. He also served at his parish as a Eucharistic minister, lector, and catechist in RCIA and adult faith formation.
The Lord continued to call Jimmy deeper into a life of service, and in 2011, he and Lupe entered into the diaconate formation program. On June 11, 2016, Jimmy was ordained a deacon for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and assigned to St. Cyprian Church in Long Beach. He served there faithfully for the last five years, finding his greatest joy in baptizing children into the Catholic faith. In spite of all the many hardships Jimmy had to overcome, he believed he was blessed beyond measure. He will be remembered for his heart-warming laugh and eternal smile.
Jimmy is survived by his wife of 42 years, Lupe Salas; his three children, Santiago Salas III, Alicia Salas, and Amanda Salas-Gerard; and three grandchildren, AJ Cruz, Santiago Salas IV, and Chelsea Salas.
