First ordination from St. Therese's Church

Father Jose Padron has become the first known ordained priest from the St. Therese Church in Shafter.

The celebration of Padron's ordination took place July 13 and was witnessed by over 100 parishioners from Shafter who had made the trip to see Padron become ordained. He is now the priest for St. Anthony's Church in Fresno.

Padron said that he is excited in fulfilling his lifetime dream to one day have a parish and allow God to work through him. The Mass of Ordination took place at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Visalia.

Padron grew up in the St. Therese Church in Shafter, studying to become the first priest from Shafter. Padron said that his relationship with God was important to him growing up in Shafter, and that every experience and encounter that he had seemed to bring him closer to God.

" I celebrated with my family and friends after the ordination and am looking forward to my first Mass with my community," he said.

When asked what his favorite part of the Mass was, Padron said, "All of it is important, but the moment is the climax, in which is the Epiclesis, where the priest places hands on the bread and wine through the Holy Spirit and transforms them into the Body and Blood of Christ."

Padron said that he received some of the most valuable advice for his life early on. "I was told to never take my eyes off of God. I live by that, and it has helped me become the man I am today."