Father John Direen

By Carrie McClish
Staff writer

When Father John Direen learned that he had been appointed as pastor at Berkeley’s St. Joseph the Worker Parish the thought of joining one of the diocese’s oldest faith communities left him feeling both honored and humbled.

“This is a large and vibrant parish, which has been nurtured by some very talented pastors and their ministry teams for many years, so this call is a privilege that I do not take lightly,” he told The Voice.

The parish, which marked its 130th birthday earlier this year, has long been known for its cultural diversity, its leadership in Catholic education, and its commitment to social justice. In addition to learning more about the parish’s continuing legacy, Father Direen, who turns 48 next month, is looking forward to getting to know the people who live and minister in the community.

He is also eager to share his faith journey with his new parish family. Born in Orlando, Florida, he grew up in Las Cruces, New Mexico, where he attended a parochial school and began to consider a vocation in the priesthood. After graduating from a seminary high school in San Antonio, Texas, he spent six years with the Conventual Franciscans and made simple vows. But he left the community at age 24, not quite ready to commit to religious life.

He moved to the Bay Area in 1988, finished his BA at Cal State Hayward and enrolled in the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. He volunteered with the Victim Offender Reconciliation Program (VORP) at Catholic Charities and then joined the staff of Oakland’s St. Andrew-St. Joseph Parish when Father Larry Silva, now the bishop of Honolulu, was pastor.

The encouragement he received from many at the parish helped convince him to answer the call to priesthood. He left the parish to enroll in St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park and, following his graduation, was ordained a priest on May 18, 2001.

Over the next eight years Father Direen has served as a parochial vicar at St. Clement in Hayward and St. Michael in Livermore and as parochial administrator (briefly at St. Patrick Parish in Oakland) at St. Andrew-St. Joseph Parish in Oakland. He guided the parish as it became part of the Cathedral Parish of Christ the Light.

Father Direen recently recalled the words of the late Msgr. John Sweeney, a pastor in the San Jose Diocese, who said he was always edified by the faithful who come to church regularly to pray and strive to practice their faith. Taking that sentiment to heart, Berkeley’s new pastor said he wants to become familiar with the talents, gifts and needs of his parishioners. The goal, he said, is “to discern how we can work together, giving witness to our Catholic faith and glory to God.”

Other assignments
The following priests were assigned as parochial administrators, effective July 1: Father Vince Cotter to Church of the Good Shepherd in Pittsburg; Father Hugo Franca to St. John the Baptist in San Lorenzo; Father Ruben Morales to St. Michael in Livermore; Father Ken Sales to St. Clement in Hayward; Father Carl Arcosa to Immaculate Heart of Mary in Brentwood; and Father Rolando Bartolay to St. John the Baptist in El Cerrito.

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