BY RITA McINERNEY

Staff Writer

ATLANTA--Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Atlanta, gave a joyful welcome to Father Jose Duvan Gonzalez on June 21 as he celebrated his first Mass as a priest of the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

Father Gonzalez, 34, was ordained June 1 at Parroquia La Milagrosa, his parish church in Medellin, Colombia.

The new priest's first assignment is as parochial vicar at IHM where he will serve all of the parishioners, especially the large Hispanic community and youth.

Speaking through interpreter Esther Stroud, a native of Argentina and longtime housekeeper at IHM, Father Gonzalez recalled his road to seminary and priesthood. John Stroud, Esther's husband, a retired English and Spanish teacher in DeKalb County schools and Evenings at Emory instructor, is the new priest's English teacher.

His 1989 admission to Seminario Cristo Sacerdote (Christ's Priests) in Medellin, didn't come after lengthy inner reflection about his future, he explained.

Once he realized his desire to become a priest he made "the termination from one moment to the other very quickly." He was "almost ready to get married," he admitted.

"One day I decided to go to the seminary and ask what I needed to get in," he said. Although the seminary enrollment had been closed, he was accepted and began studies in January 1989. He was 27 years old.

Life in seminary was one big challenge and a radical departure. Out of school 10 years, his life had been hard yet colorful. He labored as a motor mechanic, drove a cab and worked in a cantina -- a gathering place somewhat like a neighborhood bar in the U.S.

He had played his guitar and sung native ballads on street corners to make money to help his large family. He is the 11th of 12 children. Two brothers suffer from hemophilia.

Many nights after his day job was finished, he would take a sack and go into the Medellin slum to collect discarded animal bones. These he could sell for recycling into soap.

As a seminarian there were times, he later confided to friends, that his superiors "didn't think he would make it," yet Father Gonzalez was one of five of the 62 he started with to complete seven years of seminary studies.

He was able, during time away from classes and books, to enjoy other pursuits. He could play the organ, help in the seminary gardens and entertain other seminarians and faculty with his guitar and songs.

Among the 1,500 people who crowded the parish church for his ordination were neighbors and friends from his former life. They had replied with the Spanish equivalent of "Never" when he told them of his intention to become a priest.

"They all came to see me ordained," he said with a grin.

He had been in the seminary three years when he met Father Richard Kieran, pastor of IHM who was assisting Msgr. Don Kenny, vocations director, in promoting vocations to the Archdiocese of Atlanta in Colombia.

After a "lot of talking and filling out papers," he was accepted as a candidate for the priesthood by Archbishop James P. Lyke, OFM. His first trip to Atlanta came in 1993 where he soaked up parish experience at IHM for about one month. The next year he visited Sacred Heart Church in downtown Atlanta for the same purpose.

He was ordained a transitional deacon by Archbishop John F. Donoghue on Jan. 11 at IHM. He remained at the parish for several months, returning to Medellin for a retreat and his ordination.

Traveling there for the ordination were Father Kieran, Father Luis Zarama and Jaime and Mariela Piedrahita, friends from IHM. The latter three are natives of Colombia.

When he first interviewed the new priest, Father Kieran said he "saw in him a real missionary and a real dedication to ministry. He was willing to move from Colombia and serve here in Atlanta."

The Piedrahitas had planned to travel to Colombia in July but advanced their trip so they could attend the ordination. Their friendship began when he came to IHM in 1994, Mrs. Piedrahita said.

The Piedrahitas presented him with individual palancas (spiritual bouquets) from IHM parishioners, and were delighted to be part of the celebration in the parish church the new priest had attended since boyhood.

People, mostly relatives, flew in from Canada, England, Venezuela and other parts of Colombia for the ordination, she said. The bishop who ordained Father Gonzalez, Mons. Abraham Escudero, had also given him his first Communion.

Mrs. Piedrahita said the new priest "has been working hard since January, visiting and taking Communion to the sick" at the Briarcliff Road parish.

His homily at his first Mass here was full of his gratitude to the Lord for calling him to the priesthood. Mrs. Stroud said she was touched when he mentioned that he had another "collection" he needed from the congregation.

"I want another offering from you, your prayers. I'm here to serve you, not to be served. And if I'm doing something wrong, please tell me...We're going to work together."