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
Sr. Jordan 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
The Society of Mary (Marianists) announces the 70th jubilee of profession of Cupertino resident Brother Thomas Spring, a Hawaii native who has served the Diocese of San Jose in various ministries throughout his history of Marianist service. Brother Spring entered the postulate in Santa Cruz, California, and professed first vows on Sept., 5, 1952, in Marcy, New York. Almost two decades later, Brother Spring was assigned to ministry in California that eventually spanned 20 years of service, beginning in Cupertino. From 1971-1973, he served in the Marianist province development office and from 1973-1975, he taught at Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose. Brother Spring returned to San Jose 10 years later to serve at Queen of Apostles Parish where he directed the music ministry from 1985-1992.
65 Years of Service
Religious and Diocesan Priests
Fr. Marvin Deutsch, MM – Maryknoll
Msgr. Lou Andre
Fr. Joseph Van Tinh
Sr. Georgia Christensen (Mary Howard) – Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration
Sister Georgia Christensen grew up in Utah and entered the FSPA community at St. Rose Convent in La Crosse, Wisconsin, in 1959. Having since served in many ministries of education, she began as a teacher for two years at St. Boniface Parish in New Vienna, Iowa, one year at St. John the Baptist Parish in La Crosse and then 11 years at Our Lady of Fatima/All Saints Middle School and Marycliff High School in Spokane, Washington. After earning a Master of Educational Administration, she was transferred to Palo Alto, California, as a principal and then as an assistant superintendent of schools in Monterey, California.
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
Fr. Roland Bunda, SM – Society of Mary
The Society of Mary (Marianists) announces the 60th jubilee of profession of Father Roland Bunda, a Hawaii native who served the Diocese of San Jose from 1966 to 1975. He professed first vows on Aug. 25, 1962 in Santa Cruz, California.
Father Bunda began his Marianist ministry in 1966 as a high school teacher at Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, where he served for nine years. In 1975, he began seminary studies in Canada and was ordained in San Jose at Queen of Apostles Church on Aug. 4, 1978.
55 Years of Service
Religious and Diocesan Priests
Msgr. J. Patrick Browne
Fr. Edward Samy
50 Years of Service
Religious and Diocesan Priests
Msgr. Dominic Dinh Do
Br. Thomas W. Redmond, SM – Society of Mary
The Society of Mary (Marianists) announces the 50th jubilee of profession of San Jose native Brother Thomas Redmond, who served in the Diocese of San Jose in various ministries for 12 years.
Brother Redmond was born and raised in San Jose, where he attended St. Clare School in Santa Clara and Archbishop Mitty High School. He professed first vows on Aug. 20, 1972, in Honolulu. He began his Marianist ministry in Cupertino in 1973, serving as a working brother on a construction crew and residing in San Jose until 1981. Decades later, Brother Redmond returned to the San Jose Diocese to begin serving as community director for the Marianist (health care) Community in Cupertino, where he remained until 2017.
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.
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
Fr. Thomas Piquado, SJ – Society of Jesus
Fr. John Privett, SJ – Society of Jesus
45 Years of Service
Religious and Diocesan Priests
Fr. Steven Brown
Fr. Lawrence Hendel
Fr. John E. Hurley, CSP
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