Living, praying together helps college men discern call to priesthood

Published: 2003-10-23

GARDENA, Calif. (CNS) -- Eight Catholic college men share a home. They watch television, play ping-pong and basketball, cook, hang out into the night, even study -- and attend weekday Mass. Juan Diego House is not a college fraternity house; it's the Archdiocese of Los Angeles' new home for young men who are discerning a call to the priesthood. And it's an answer to what to do next after the decision was made to close the archdiocesan college seminary, St. John's. At Juan Diego House, students attend various local colleges, stay active in their parish communities each weekend and explore their call to the priesthood together. These pioneering eight -- Gabriel Castillo, Joe Dichosa, Juan Cano, Khan Ngo, Matt Johnson, Mike Perez, Sergio Cedeno and Vu Ngo -- started living in the 11-bedroom house in Gardena at the beginning of the fall semester. Their house master is Father Bob Juarez, former pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in East Los Angeles.

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