New priests for Yuma churches

  Father Emilio Chapa and Father Edward Lucero are now in Yuma serving as diocesan priests after completing their studies and receiving their ordinations.

  Chapa is at St. Francis of Assisi Church, while Lucero is at Immaculate Conception Church.

  The two, who attended the same seminaries at the same time, were ordained by Bishop Gerald Kincanas of the Tucson Diocese on June 7.

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FATHER EMILIO CHAPA

   At 28, Chapa is the youngest ordained priest in the Diocese of Arizona and the nation.

   "I was born in Austin, Texas, and my family moved to Tucson when I was in the third grade," Chapa said. "My father is Ricardo Chapa, and my mother, Delfina Landero, kept her maiden name. I have an older brother and an adopted sister."

  He attended classes at the University of Arizona for three years, majoring in aerospace engineering.

  His interest in priesthood was inspired after attending various functions, one of which was a retreat where he heard the confession of an older priest.

  "This opened the door for me. I prayed and visited seminaries for about a year before I decided this was the path for me," Chapa said.

  At Pontifical College Josephinium in Columbus, Ohio, he graduated with honors and earned his bachelor's degree, and at St. Mary of the Lake, he graduated with a master of divinity.

  "I have been in the area prior to being assigned here. In the early 2000s, I was a master of ceremonies for Bishop Kincanas when he was conducting confirmations in Somerton and San Luis.

  "When I arrived at St. Francis of Assisi on July 2, my welcome was very friendly. Every day here is different. I'm meeting new people all the time - all ages. I've met with youth groups and led adult prayer.

  "I teach adult catechism at Yuma Catholic High School and visit our St. Vincent de Paul thrift store. I've already given my first communion and will be performing my first wedding ceremony on Sept. 12."

  More of the activities the priest will be involved in are visiting the homebound, giving blessings for homes and businesses. "I don't sing but was in a choir in seminary. I chant at Mass."

  He repeated that every day is different and said he's looking forward to becoming more involved in the community, where needed.

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FATHER EDWARD LUCERO

   For nearly five years,  before he entered priesthood, Lucero was a sergeant with the 3rd Infantry Division in the Army. He was stationed at Fort Stewart, Ga., then sent to Kuwait in 1994.

  "Our infantry brigade had rapid deployment in Kuwait along the Iraq border," Lucero said.

  "In about 1996 I had been attending Mass in a cathedral in Savannah and was inspired. It was the beginning of my new career," the 41-year-old priest explained.

  Lucero, who was born and raised in Glendale, Calif., had attended Northern Arizona University at Flagstaff, earning a degree in finance.

   His first parochial schooling was at St. Mary of the Lake Mundelein seminary near Chicago. The first year was pre-theology, and the next four, theology. While there, in the summer months he served as a hospital chaplain in nearby Chicago.

  In the Tucson Diocese, Lucero was active in various events and led Mass. "We were assigned to different parishes for additional training. I was at parishes in Safford and Tucson."

  After his graduation in May and the ordination on June 7 in Tucson, Lucero and some of his college friends from Flagstaff went fishing in the Sierra Nevadas.

  "Moving to Yuma has been a positive experience. Everyone is friendly and welcoming," Lucero said.

  "I came here in July and decided after remembering winter snow for three months in Chicago, then the Arizona summers in Tucson, Yuma wasn't any hotter."

  His activities at Immaculate Conception Church are numerous and varied, involving all ages, from the kindergarten to eighth grade at IC School. Visits to Yuma Catholic High School are part of the agenda.

  "Masses are at the church, the Marine Corps Air Station and Yuma Proving Ground, the latter continuing a longtime service. On Tuesdays, I recite Mass at Emerald Springs, the retirement home. I also hold clinical pastorale services at the Yuma Regional Medical Center, on call," Lucero said.

  "Wherever and whenever needed is my call," the new priest said.

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ANOINTED TRAINING
  Father Emilio Chapa and Father Edward Lucero, newly arrived priests in Yuma, completed studies and church assignments at the following locations:

• St. Mary of the Lake, a Mundelein Seminary, Mundelein, Ill., near Chicago

• In Bolivia in 2006, to study Spanish with the Marinole priests.

• On a pilgrimage to the Holy Land for 10 weeks, December 2006 to February 2007

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Pam M. Smith can be reached at psmith@yumasun.com or 539-6856.