ENDURING hardships in life are part of faith building.
For Father Loreto Rojas, a pastor at St. James Parish in Davis, California, and the 33 youth members (ages 14-24) from the Diocese of Sacramento, they know hardships well when they embarked on a journey to see the pope.
Last month, Father Rojas and the 33 youths traveled to Madrid for World Youth Day where Pope Benedict XVI oversaw a mass in front of 1.4 million people outside gusty winds and pouring rain in Cuatro Vientos.
The pope’s message: Faith entails “a personal relationship with Christ, a surrender of our whole person, with all our understanding, will and feelings,” reported the Catholic News Service.
“Respond to him with generosity and courage, as befits young hearts like your own,” said the Pope.
“Let me urge you to strengthen this life of faith which has been handed down from the time of the apostles,” he said. “Make Christ, the Son of God, the center of your life.”
During their travels, the Catholic News Service reported Father Rojas and his group “handled the hardship of getting to Cuatro Vientos -- squashed like sardines on the Metro and walking miles in the heat -- shows they got the message, especially about charity.”
“They may not be able to verbalize it on a theoretical level, but on a practical level, they are there,” said Rojas to CNS. “It’s very real. We’re a big group and they are very mindful of each other. Some were not up to the walk and others, who wanted to experience the 8-kilometer (5-mile) walk, volunteered to stay with them.”
Rojas was born of Loreto and Aida Rojas in Bato, Catanduanes, Philippines.
According to his bio, Rojas is the youngest of eight children.
His father was a doctor who often helped those that could not afford his service or medical attention. Seeing this at an early age made a strong impression on him.
“He grew up with the desire to be of help to other people, especially those who are in need. He later realized that he can reach more people by becoming a priest,” according to his bio on St. Isidore Church website in Yuba City.
Rojas entered the seminary at the age of 11. He graduated from the University of Santo Tomas earning a Bachelor of Philosophy, Licentiate in Philosophy, and a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies degrees.
He came to the US in 1994 and attended St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park.
He earned other degrees, a Bachelor of Sacred Theology, Master of Divinity, and a Master of Theology. He also spent time in Rome and completed his Licentiate in Dogmatic Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University.
Bishop William Weigand ordained Rojas as a priest for the Diocese of Sacramento on May 29, 2000 at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Among his assignments, he served as parochial vicar and pastor at St. Isidore’s in Yuba City until 2007. He was then assigned to where he is now, as a pastor at St. James Parish in Davis.
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