During my first year at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, I overheard frequent discussions about “late”, “delayed”, “mature” vocations and this would make me laugh inside, especially since I was almost the oldest student there. It wasn’t until word got out about my age and years in religious life that faculty members and students wanted to hear of my life experiences. (This had its disadvantages, especially when professors in liturgy classes would ask me to explain pre-Vatican II prayers or rituals. It finally got to the point that whenever a professor in any class would mention the general views of anything prior to the Second Vatican Council the whole class would automatically look to me for a response. That was great because I was able to offer personal insights that textbooks might not convey.) I really began to feel like a “mature vocation” during a course in liturgical music when I was the only one in the class that had access to a tape recorder!

My first encounter with the Augustinian Recollects goes back to my days in elementary school when priests would come from the Monastery of St. Augustine in Kansas City, KS, to say Mass at our parish, St. Joseph’s in Shawnee. Naturally, they also made sure that a good representation from Shawnee attended and supported the monastery during the annual Ice Cream Social which is a happy memory for many of the long-time members of our Province.

Throughout the years our Province has prepared numerous pieces of literature for vocational recruitment, responding to changing needs and situations. One particular pamphlet that has endured expresses in bold letters that “GOD NEVER CEASES TO CALL”, along with an appropriate quotation from St. Augustine that reminds us to “Walk in Christ and sing joyfully… He who asks that you follow has already gone before you.”

What a tremendous reminder this is for all us, regardless of our stages of formation and especially in our daily formation. This has certainly been an encouraging reminder during these last few years of intense study while preparing for the priesthood. Some members of the Province do know that I had considered pursuing theological studies throughout the years and, along with the encouraging words of Bishop Alphonse Gallegos and Fr. Jesus Legaz were the frequent reminders that the Church needs teachers and principals! I do respect the wisdom of these members of our Province whose memory we enjoy. As local priors during my assignments, they encouraged me in pursuing vital ministries.

Others know that the call to priesthood was a “gentle tap on the shoulder” during the sixteen years that I spent as Provincial Councilor and Secretary of the Province. These also were years of important and fulfilling ministry. One of the earliest comments to me by the Rector and faculty members of St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo was that I am so fortunate to enter the seminary program with these many experiences behind me. Yes, they are behind me and they remain ever present and are influencing my future. All of them have shaped me and provided me with such a variety of ministerial experiences. As I reflect on these experiences, this brings to mind one of my favorite quotations of Our Father Saint Augustine when he reminded his followers to “Trust the past to the mercy of God, the present to His love, and the future to His care.”

I want to express my appreciation to the members of our Province who have supported me by their prayers, kind words and encouragement. I also express thanks for those who rejoiced with me when the Ministries of Reader and Acolyte were conferred and at the Diaconate Ordination. I am especially grateful to those members of the Province who voiced their promises of prayers on the occasion of my Ordination to the Priesthood.

I had requested that my ordination be held on May 22, the feast of St. Rita, who has been a special patron for me and my family. My devotion to St. Rita certainly hasn’t been a secret as many people know.

The liturgy of ordination truly had an Augustinian tone, especially with the presence of our own Bishop David Arias, O.A.R., Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Newark. The matching vestments with the Augustinian logo were impressive in their simplicity and symbolism. I was honored to have Fr. Provincial, Fr. Domingos Machado of St. Augustine Priory and Msgr. Craig Cox, Rector of St. John’s Seminary, to vest me in the stole and chasuble. Br. Anthony Torretti served as Master of Ceremonies and has frequently assisted Bishop Arias through the years for ordinations and Province liturgies.

Approximately 650 persons were present in Mary Star of the Sea Church in Oxnard for the ordination liturgy – a very impressive crowd for a weekday evening. My mother, Rose Stechmann arrived two days earlier from Kansas, along with my younger brother, Mark. Members of Bishop Alphonse Gallegos’ family were present from California and New Mexico as our families have remained close for over 30 years.

Religious from several of our California communities were present and it was an honor to have our Prior Provincial, Fr. Charles Huse, accompanied by all the members of our Provincial Council. Joining them were priests and deacons from the local parishes and priest faculty members from St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo. The presence of so many religious men and women, and seminarians from St. John’s was an impressive witness for those in attendance, and it was my privilege at the close of the liturgy to invite the gathering to express appreciation for the priests, deacons, religious and seminarians present in our midst.

Fr. Joy Zabala, pastor, was absent for the ordination and First Mass, however, Fr.Michael Kenny greeted those assembled with a genuineness and an Augustinian spirit of hospitality. His kind words set the tone for the liturgy and beautiful reception that followed in the parish hall. I am grateful to Fr. Joy for granting permission for the use of the parish hall for a reception following the Ordination.

The music for the liturgy of ordination and the First Mass was coordinated by Fr. Michael Kenny, O.A.R. and enhanced by the combined parish choirs and enthusiastic congregational singing.

The First Mass was held at the Vigil Liturgy on Saturday, May 24, the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ with Fr. Michael Kenny again directing the music and religious of St. Augustine Priory concelebrating. For both of the liturgies it was encouraging to have former students in attendance from San Miguel in Los Angeles and St. Benedict School, Montebello and their parents, along with friends/parishioners from Our Lady of the Pillar and Cristo Rey Church.

I was so fortunate to return to Kansas for a Mass of Thanksgiving at my home parish of St. Joseph’s in Shawnee. The pastor was so welcoming in his remarks and special letters and invitations to the parishioners. He rejoiced that a native son had returned to the parish where I attended the parish elementary and high school and our family has been active in the parish for 45 years. He spoke so warmly of the Augustinian Recollects who had been a part of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and had also served at St. Joseph’s for many years. Among the concelebrants were Archdiocesan priests and special recognition was given to those who are native sons of St. Joseph Parish.

Many long-time parishioners were present and a litany of names would be familiar for a good number of our religious and all of them were very interested in asking about individual members of the Province. It was a special treat to have Mrs. Lula Jackson present for the liturgy and in speaking to her, she recalled with fondness the 26 years that she served as our cook at the Monastery of St. Augustine and extends her greetings to so many of our members who enjoyed her cheerful presence through the years.

Again, I am thankful for the support that I have received during these years of vocational discernment. As the ordination liturgy came to a close, Fr. Provincial echoed the words of Bishop Arias with the call to obedience and service in his remarks. He used this as a preface to his announcement of my assignment to Cristo Rey Parish in Los Angeles. With the excitement of this new assignment also comes many challenges but it is encouraging to be welcomed by our brothers here and the wonderful parishioners who remember with great fondness the numerous members of our Province who have served here.

Fr. Michael Stechmann, OAR