HONORING OUR PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS FOR THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE

We congratulate all the priests and religious celebrating their milestone anniversaries for their tireless dedication in serving the Lord through the Diocese of San José and the Catholic Church.

They often wear many hats, such as administrator, maintenance man, cook, accountant, friend. They have served mostly within the Diocese, with some also serving as teachers, chaplains and counselors.

We gratefully thank you for your many years of Ministry Service.

75 Years of Service

Religious

 Sr. Kathleen Grimley, DC – Daughters of Charity

70 Years of Service

Religious

Sr. Mary Ann Connell, SNJM – Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
Sister Mary Ann taught in elementary schools and at Holy Names University. She also worked in formation with priests and religious Sisters, and in adult parish education. Today she lives in Campbell at Merrill Gardens where she teaches Tai Chi to the residents.

Sr. Kathleen Curtin, PBVM – Sisters of the Presentation
Sr. Kathleen Curtin, PBVM taught in Catholic and public schools in San Jose in the 1960s before opening Emmaus House with other Sisters, and turning to a ministry of counseling and social work. She did many years of foreign mission in Mexico and Guatemala, returning to work for the Gilroy Family Center CPS in 1997 and volunteer at Redwood City Catholic Worker from 2010-2015.

Sr. Francis Rose Klos, SNJM – Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary

Sr. Jean Morningstar, SNJM – Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
After 32 years of teaching in elementary and secondary schools in California, Sister Jean Morningstar SNJM founded Holy Names Graphics and provided clip art and graphic design services for religious entities worldwide. She lives at Merrill Gardens and continues to develop her skills and to create new images.

Sr. Vera Ruotolo, SNJM – Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary

Sr. Camille Cuadra, DC – Daughters of Charity

Sr. Rosalie Pizzo, SNDdeN – Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
Sr. Rosalie is a native of San Jose, CA and attended Catholic Schools from Elementary to College. Her ministerial experiences included teaching, administration, parochial and diocesan assignments in several geographical areas: Belmont, Los Angeles, Carmel, Campbell, Seattle, Rome, Cupertino and San Jose. She recently served as a Bishop’s delegate to Religious for nine years. Sr. Rosalie says that “In all ministries in which I served, the element of education was central. Thus, I am eager to serve on a board of an educational institution, especially one that witnesses so powerfully to the gospel message of making real and credible God’s goodness. The spirit of Saint Julie is alive and well at Notre Dame, San Jose. I am proud to do what I can as a board member to further its vibrant spirit.“

Sr. Joan Riordan, PBVM – Sisters of the Presentation
first worked in the Diocese of San Jose as a teacher at Presentation High School in 1970. She subsequently taught at San Jose City College and Evergreen Valley College. She is currently a volunteer tutor at Presentation High School, San Jose. Sister Joan’s 70th anniversary was in 2021, with the celebration postponed to 2022 due to Covid

Br. Thomas Spring, SM – Society of Mary

65 Years of Service

Religious and Diocesan Priests

Fr. Marvin Deutsch, MM – Maryknoll

Msgr. Lou Andre

Fr. Joseph Van Tinh

60 Years of Service

Religious

Sr. Cecilia Calva, SNJM –  Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary

Sr. Patti,  Doyle, SNJM –  Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary

Sr. Marguerite Kirk, SNJM –  Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary

Sr. Janet Barrett, DC – Daughters of Charity

Fr. Joseph Hermes, MM – Maryknoll

Fr. John Soltis,  MM – Maryknoll

Fr. Cornelius Michael, Buckley, SJ – Society of Jesus
Fr. Buckley was born in 1925 in Los Angeles and grew up in San Mateo. In 1942, he Graduated from Bellarmine College Prep inSan Jose then signed up for military service at the US Navy. He returned from military service and went back to college and graduated from Santa Clara University. He entered the Jesuits in 1950 and was ordained in 1962 in St.-Leu-d’Essarant-sur-l’Oise by Bishop of Beauvais. He lived in France from 1959 – 1967 and achieved his PhD in History from the University of Paris. He then returned to the US in 1967 as an educator and a chaplain. His last position was a chaplain at Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA and now resides at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center, Los Gatos, CA.

 Fr. Robert Egan, SJ / Deceased† – Society of Jesus

Fr. James, Laudwein, SJ – Society of Jesus

Fr. Ernest Martinez, SJ / Deceased† – Society of Jesus

Fr. Anthony Via, SJ – Society of Jesus

55 Years of Service

Religious and Diocesan Priests

Sr. Cecilia Calva, SNJM –  Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary

Sr. Patti,  Doyle, SNJM –  Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary

Sr. Marguerite Kirk, SNJM –  Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary

Sr. Janet Barrett, DC – Daughters of Charity

Fr. John Soltis,  MM – Maryknoll

Fr. Cornelius Michael, Buckley, SJ – Society of Jesus

 Fr. Robert Egan, SJ / Deceased† – Society of Jesus

Fr. James, Laudwein, SJ – Society of Jesus

Fr. Ernest Martinez, SJ / Deceased† – Society of Jesus

Fr. Anthony Via, SJ – Society of Jesus

Msgr. J. Patrick Browne 

Fr. Edward Samy

50 Years of Service

Religious and Diocesan Priests

Sr. Roberta “Bobbi” Green, PBVM – Sisters of the Presentation
was a teacher at St. Mary School, Gilroy; St. Christopher School, San Jose; and St. Catherine School in Morgan Hill between 1985 and her retirement in 2021. She continues to volunteer at St. Mary’s. Sister Bobbi’s 50th anniversary was in 2021, with the celebration postponed to 2022 due to Covid.

Sr. Sally Slynstad, SNJM – Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary

 Mother Maura Heinen,  PCC – Poor Clares

 Sr. Sofia Berrones, MCDP – Missionary Catechists of Divine Providence
In August of 2002, I began my 1700 mile trip from San Antonio, TX, to San José to begin my ministry with the Tribunal of the San José Diocese.  I did not know anyone here but soon experienced the welcoming and family spirit of the Chancery Staff and felt at home.    As the Tribunal Moderator, I handle the Administrative work that comes with marriage annulments, dispensation/permissions, Lack of Forms, Ligamens, Paulines, Sanations and the Transmittal of Wedding Documents to other countries and dioceses.   I am a member of the Missionary Catechists of Divine Providence based in San Antonio, TX, and have been a Sister for 50 years.  On Palm Sunday, during our Chapter of Elections, I was elected the Superior General of my congregation.  This was totally by surprise!   I keep telling myself “that God is in charge and not to worry.”  So, I will return to San Antonio, TX, where we have our Administrative Headquarters. The installation ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, May 29. I leave San José with joy, gratitude and the love and warmth of the wonderful people at the Chancery and the people I have served during these 20 years of service.

 Fr. Thomas Piquado, SJ – Society of Jesus

 Fr. John Privett, SJ – Society of Jesus

45 Years of Service

Diocesan Priests

Fr. Steven Brown

Fr. Lawrence Hendel

40 Years of Service

Religious

Fr. Kevin Leidich, SJ – Society of Jesus
A native of San Francisco, Fr. Kevin Leidich, S.J. was ordained in 1982, after earning an MDiv at Weston Jesuit School of Theology and an MRE at Catholic University. An experienced director of eight-day retreats, he also participated on the direction team of five 36-day retreat programs at Los Altos during the 1990’s. While teaching high school theology has been his principal ministry from 1983 to 2014 in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Sacramento, he has also regularly conducted programs for adults on The Spiritual Exercises at both Loyola High in Los Angeles and Jesuit High in Sacramento. Kevin also worked for ten years as co-director of the California Province two-summer Tertianship program for Jesuit priests and brothers who are preparing to pronounce final vows. He has been a member of the JRC pastoral staff since August 2014.

Fr. John Ridgeway, SJ – Society of Jesus

Sr. Stephanie Still, PBVM – Sisters of the Presentation
was Director of Marketing and Public Relations and a Social Studies teacher at Presentation High School, San Jose. She is now the Executive Director of the National Religious Retirement Office in Washington, DC. Sister Stephanie’s 40th anniversary was in 2021, with the celebration postponed to 2022 due to Covid.

35 Years of Service

Diocesan Priests

Fr. Gregory Kimm

Fr. David Mercer

Fr. Arthur Yabes

30 Years of Service

Religious and Diocesan Priests

 Fr. Peter, Burns, SJ – Society of Jesus

Fr. Andrew Garavel, SJ – Society of Jesus

Fr. Andres Ligot

Fr. Geronimo Generoso

25 Years of Service

Religious and Diocesan Priests

Sr. Ma. Norie B. Noman,  AR – Augustinian Recollect Sisters

Sr. Maria Ca Thi Do, LS.S. – La Salle Sisters

Sr. Van Phuoc Nguyen, LHC – Lovers of the Holy Cross of Cai Mon

Sr. Mary Therese Pak, PCC – Poor Clares

Sr. Christiana Wong, PCC – Poor Clares

Fr. Joseph Benedict

Fr. Andrew Salapata

Fr. Hector Villela-Huerta

Fr. Stefano Taehoon Ko

Fr. Hugo Rojas

20 Years of Service

Religious and Diocesan Priests

Fr. Paul Mariani, SJ – Society of Jesus
Fr. Paul have been a professor in the Department of History at Santa Clara University since the fall of 2009. I also assist at the San Jose Chinese Catholic Community and St. John Vianney.

Fr. Duc Vu, SJ – Society of Jesus