CRICs Crack County: Canons Regular of the Immaculate Conception
Gain Santa Paula Parishes
(Winter 2001-2002 Newsletter)
Fr. James Garceau ('78)
The Canons Regular of the Immaculate Conception was recently
transferred its assignment to Santa Paula's two parishes,
St. Sebastian's and Our Lady of Guadalupe. The opportunity
was presented in early 2000, when Fr. James Rothe, long-time
pastor of St. Sebastian's Parish, announced his retirement
from diocesan duties.
Because of his departure, Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony
asked the Canons, who previously maintained St. Francis of
Assisi Parish in the Silverlake district of Los Angeles, to
step in and take over both parishes. By the following February,
the move was complete, and Santa Paula acquired four new priests,
including Fr. James Garceau, C.R.I.C., (class of '78) who
was named Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
"This was a terrific move for us," said Fr. Garceau,
"because we were looking to establish a more permanent
location for our house of formation, and Santa Paula offered
a perfect opportunity for us to establish one. It's a small
town with a vibrant parish life."
The order was founded in 1871 by French parish priest Dom
Adrian Grea who wanted a community of priests involved in
parish ministry who would pray the Liturgy of the Hours along
with fellow parishioners.
Unlike St. Sebastian's parish, Our Lady of Guadalupe is Spanish-speaking,
and serves a poorer, lower middle class community comprised
entirely of Mexican and Mexican-American parishioners. "Many
come from remote regions of Mexico with very little catechetical
knowledge, but they have very deep faith. It's like being
a missionary in your own country."
Fr. Garceau graduated from the College's 'old' campus in
Calabasas. Now in Santa Paula, he has enjoyed returning to
the orbit of his alma mater and his contact with students,
tutors, and faculty families. "I've enjoyed a spiritual
and intellectual return of sorts by being back around the
College."
Fr. Garceau also has wider responsibilities for his Order.
He is the Order's Provincial Director and a member of it's
General Council, which entails work with the Superior General
of the Order in Rome concerning the needs of the congregation
world-wide. He also is involved in vocation formation.
While Fr. Garceau is pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Fr.
Pasqueale Vuoso is pastor of St. Sebastian. Fr. Charles Lueras
is associate pastor to both parishes, and Fr. Tom Dome is
the vocation and formation director who resides at the new
Dom Grea House of Formation, along with two seminarians.
-- Qtrly Newsletter, Winter 2002
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