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3 new priests for the Phoenix Diocese
By Andrew Junker, ajunker@catholicsun.org
May 29, 2008
The Diocese of Phoenix plans to welcome three new priests into its fold June 7 with an ordination Mass at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral. The Catholic Sun recently spoke to the ordinands about their vocations, seminary experience and the challenge of priestly life awaiting them.
José Jesús López
Age: 34
Home parish: San Francisco de Asís, Flagstaff
First assignment: St. Gabriel the Archangel, Cave Creek
Favorite saint: St. Francis of Assisi
Favorite devotion: Novenas to the Divine Mercy
Hobbies: Music, reading, swimming
When he was preparing for his first holy Communion as a child, José Jesús López was struck by the Gospel narratives.
“I was amazed to hear the parables and miracles that Jesus achieved during His time on earth,” López remembered. “I longed to know more.”
So López began to attend Mass frequently with his parents and his grandmother, all of whom he lists as great influences in his discernment process.
“Through their example and faithfulness to God, I started to serve in the Church as an altar boy, reader, eucharistic minister and youth leader,” López said. “I wanted to imitate and to be more like Jesus.”
He first felt called by Christ to be a priest when he was only 10 years old, but the road to ordination was difficult at times.
López — a native Spanish-speaker — said his greatest challenge was becoming fluent in English. But he also thinks this challenge could become a great benefit in his future ministry.
“The Lord calls me to serve the people of God in the Diocese of Phoenix and to be a bridge [between] two cultures: Mexican and American,” López said. “I hope to understand the diversity of the American culture in order to communicate and preach the good news to them.”
After his ordination, López asked for continued prayers for himself and all who work in the Lord’s vineyard.
“Please continue [to pray] for seminarians, sisters, priests and married couples to be witnesses of Christ in words and deeds,” he said.
Matt Lowry
Age: 29
Home parish: St. Theresa
First assignment: Holy Cross, Mesa
Favorite saint: St. Thérèse of Lisieux
Favorite devotion: Rosary, adoration
Hobbies: Basketball, running, guitar
Like many modern seminarians, the road leading Matt Lowry to the priesthood was not a straight shot.
He attended Arizona State University, graduating with a degree in electrical engineering and began work at Motorola.
“There, I asked myself, ‘What importance does this work have in the big picture?’” Lowry said. “I followed God’s call next to St. Theresa Parish where I went deeper into service as a youth minister.”
This service — in addition to his prayer life — led him to realize his ultimate calling in life.
“I realized that I wanted to give all for God and for me that meant going to seminary to find out if God was calling me to be one of His priests,” Lowry said.
It was there that he was able to deepen his discernment and learn to put all his trust in God.
“It was difficult getting over my own inabilities and weaknesses and trusting God,” he said. “You can get stuck in yourself and forget to have faith and trust.”
One source of strength and encouragement throughout his seminary experience was going on retreats.
“Even if it was just a day or a weekend on my own,” Lowry said, “it just helped me to refocus and remind me about why I’m doing this. It’s not because it’s my idea, but because I believe God is calling me.”
As he begins his new life at Holy Cross Parish, Lowry hopes the faithful there will “introduce themselves multiple times.”
“Family ministry is important to me. Just come up and say hi,” he said. “And pray for me.”
Arthur Nave, Jr.
Age: 27
Home parish: St. Mary, Kingman
First assignment: St. Thomas Aquinas, Avondale
Favorite saint: St. Stephen
Favorite devotion: Rosary
Hobbies: Hiking, backpacking, reading
Arthur Nave, Jr. was drawn to serving at the “altar of God during Mass” shortly after receiving his first holy Communion.
“For several years, I served faithfully and my vocation began to resound within me,” the soon-to-be priest said.
Like many teens, though, other things were on his mind during high school and Nave put his vocation on the back burner.
Then, as a sophomore, he was involved in a bicycle accident that left him with 15 stitches in his head and a “new look on life and the world,” he said.
“After this accident, the calling of the priesthood crept back into my life,” Nave remembered. “During the last half of my junior year in high school, I found that the diocesan priesthood was calling clearly.”
But the rewards of his time spent first at Mount Angel and then at Mundelein Seminary in Illinois have been enormous, Nave said.
“The most rewarding part was my own personal growth in my relationship with Christ and the Church,” he said. “I recognized my joy and love of serving the Church.”
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