Dear St. Raymond’s Family,
Greetings to you in the Lord Jesus Christ!
I am humbled and honored that Archbishop Gomez appointed me as the new Pastor of St. Raymond Church, effective this past July 1. I am very happy and excited to have begun this new chapter in my priesthood. Fr. John Higgins, our Pastor Emeritus, and the Parish Staff have helped to make this a smooth transition to the parish. This will be the fourth time in 21 years that I have been assigned to Deanery 17 and the neighboring cities of Lynwood, South Gate, and Downey:
Seminarian Parish Internship at St. Emydius Church in Lynwood 2000-2001
Associate Pastor at St. Emydius Church 2003-2007
Associate Pastor at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Santa Clarita 2007-2008
Pastor at St. Helen Church in South Gate 2008-2013
Associate Director of Vocations 2013-2018
Director of Vocations 2018-2021
Living in Residence at Holy Family Church in Glendale 2013-2021
Priest Chaplain at St. Matthias High School/St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy 2003 to current.
I was born in the San Fernando Valley at Kaiser in Panorama City and raised from age 2 in Oak Park and Agoura Hills. I attended public schools in Oak Park, graduating from Oak Park High School. After attending Moorpark College, I transferred to UC Irvine.
B.A. History from UC Irvine 1995
B.A. Psychology & Social Behavior from UC Irvine 1995
B.A. Philosophy from St. John’s Seminary College 2000
M. Divinity from St. John’s Seminary 2003
M.A. Theology from St. John’s Seminary 2003
I was ordained for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles on the Feast of the Visitation May 31, 2003. My classmates and I were the first priests ordained in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. I celebrated my first Mass of Thanksgiving the next day at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church in Westlake Village. I am the third of four boys in my family, and I have five wonderful nieces and nephews.
Please be assured of my prayers for you and I humbly ask for your prayers for me as I concluded eight years in the Vocations Office in June and transitioned back to full time parish ministry. I place us all in the hands of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, knowing that they always lead us to their Divine Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. St. Raymond Nonnatus, pray for us.
In the Heart of Christ,
Father Sam Ward
