from catholic-sf.org
Father Gabriel Flores grew up in the midst of a deeply Christian Mexican family infused with a religiosity in which everything centered around church life: baptisms, first Communions, town festivities, Sunday Masses. And if that were not enough, he accompanied his father who played the harmonium at liturgies celebrated around their hometown of San José de García.
“I remember when priests visited us at home we used the best tablecloths, the best dinnerware and we prepared the most delicious food,” he said. “This really made me envision an ideal. On top of that my mother washed at home the church linens, which I used to take back with utmost care. This truly left an impression on me.”
Last month Father Flores celebrated not only his 25th anniversary as a priest but also his installation as pastor of Our Lady of the Pillar Parish in Half Moon Bay.
His journey to religious life began in Mexico City when, at age 18, he joined the Comboni Missionaries. The order carries out missionary work in Africa, Latin America and Asia. “I had selfless dreams to reach out to Africans and to save the world,” he recalls.
He was then sent to Paris to study philosophy and theology. After four years he returned to San José de García to be ordained a priest on Dec. 7, 1985. Because so many people were expected to attend, the ceremony was held in the town’s plaza, where a true festival took place.
“Being Christ’s priest has been the biggest and most beautiful event of my life,” Father Flores said. “From the day I said ‘yes’ to God’s beckoning, he has led me through unimaginable paths and has introduced me to people whose experiences and testimonies have made me feel that heaven is in our midst and that God himself is among us.”
After his ordination Father Flores was sent to Egypt, where he learned Arabic and Muslim culture. He remained there for 10 years, promoting the dialogue between the Islamic faith and Christians – an area that opened up after Vatican II. “We have insufficient knowledge and we need to get to know them and be known to them,” Father Flores said. “It is not a matter of convincing them or being convinced by them but to respect our differences and unveil the Holy Spirit who is at work there.”
Later he went to Rome and specialized in Arab-Christian thinking. Though he went back to Egypt he yearned for the traditional job of a priest as counselor, confessor and to celebrate baptisms, “sweet 15” celebrations and weddings.
If someone should ask Father Flores what he finds most fulfilling about being a priest, he would reply without hesitation: “Being able to be with people through profound existential moments like death, births, the celebration of love in matrimony and the possibility to enter in communion with them.”
Each time he traveled to Sacramento, where most of his family lived, Father Flores would leave with sadness. He asked for permission to come to San Francisco and was granted two years but stayed for good to be closer to Mexico and his family.
Then-Archbishop William Levada opened the doors of the archdiocese for him in 1997, naming Father Flores parochial vicar at Church of the Visitacion Parish in San Francisco for four years. Later he was assigned to Mission Dolores, also as parochial vicar, and remained there for three years. Subsequently he was named pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in San Francisco and stayed there until 2008. In 2009 he asked for a sabbatical and returned to Paris, where he helped out at a small parish and took a refresher course in theology.
In 2010 he came back to the Bay Area and in July started working at Our Lady of the Pillar, although his installation as pastor would not be held until December when he could also celebrate his 25th anniversary as a priest.
Among the guests were Auxiliary Bishop William Justice, who was the pastor of Mission Dolores when Father Flores served there and who on this occasion renewed Father Flores’ promises.
In addition to being pastor of Our Lady of the Pillar, Father Flores is responsible for St. Anthony in Pescadero and Our Lady of the Refuge in La Honda – mission churches in rural areas.
“I feel as if I am on a mission,” Father Flores said, “witnessing conditions that I thought could not be found in the United States – humble families living in crowded, small farms but with an immense faith.” He said that one of his challenges is to unite the community and help them grow in their faith, sharing their riches but respecting their differences.
“When I said ‘yes’, I did not know where the Lord would take me,” Father Flores said. He continues to follow God’s call and feels the journey has been worthwhile.
“There is no fear because God chooses us not because we are the best but because he wants instruments that accept to be chosen,” he said.
Father Gabriel Flores grew up in the midst of a deeply Christian Mexican family infused with a religiosity in which everything centered around church life: baptisms, first Communions, town festivities, Sunday Masses. And if that were not enough, he accompanied his father who played the harmonium at liturgies celebrated around their hometown of San José de García.
“I remember when priests visited us at home we used the best tablecloths, the best dinnerware and we prepared the most delicious food,” he said. “This really made me envision an ideal. On top of that my mother washed at home the church linens, which I used to take back with utmost care. This truly left an impression on me.”
Last month Father Flores celebrated not only his 25th anniversary as a priest but also his installation as pastor of Our Lady of the Pillar Parish in Half Moon Bay.
His journey to religious life began in Mexico City when, at age 18, he joined the Comboni Missionaries. The order carries out missionary work in Africa, Latin America and Asia. “I had selfless dreams to reach out to Africans and to save the world,” he recalls.
He was then sent to Paris to study philosophy and theology. After four years he returned to San José de García to be ordained a priest on Dec. 7, 1985. Because so many people were expected to attend, the ceremony was held in the town’s plaza, where a true festival took place.
“Being Christ’s priest has been the biggest and most beautiful event of my life,” Father Flores said. “From the day I said ‘yes’ to God’s beckoning, he has led me through unimaginable paths and has introduced me to people whose experiences and testimonies have made me feel that heaven is in our midst and that God himself is among us.”
After his ordination Father Flores was sent to Egypt, where he learned Arabic and Muslim culture. He remained there for 10 years, promoting the dialogue between the Islamic faith and Christians – an area that opened up after Vatican II. “We have insufficient knowledge and we need to get to know them and be known to them,” Father Flores said. “It is not a matter of convincing them or being convinced by them but to respect our differences and unveil the Holy Spirit who is at work there.”
Later he went to Rome and specialized in Arab-Christian thinking. Though he went back to Egypt he yearned for the traditional job of a priest as counselor, confessor and to celebrate baptisms, “sweet 15” celebrations and weddings.
If someone should ask Father Flores what he finds most fulfilling about being a priest, he would reply without hesitation: “Being able to be with people through profound existential moments like death, births, the celebration of love in matrimony and the possibility to enter in communion with them.”
Each time he traveled to Sacramento, where most of his family lived, Father Flores would leave with sadness. He asked for permission to come to San Francisco and was granted two years but stayed for good to be closer to Mexico and his family.
Then-Archbishop William Levada opened the doors of the archdiocese for him in 1997, naming Father Flores parochial vicar at Church of the Visitacion Parish in San Francisco for four years. Later he was assigned to Mission Dolores, also as parochial vicar, and remained there for three years. Subsequently he was named pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in San Francisco and stayed there until 2008. In 2009 he asked for a sabbatical and returned to Paris, where he helped out at a small parish and took a refresher course in theology.
In 2010 he came back to the Bay Area and in July started working at Our Lady of the Pillar, although his installation as pastor would not be held until December when he could also celebrate his 25th anniversary as a priest.
Among the guests were Auxiliary Bishop William Justice, who was the pastor of Mission Dolores when Father Flores served there and who on this occasion renewed Father Flores’ promises.
In addition to being pastor of Our Lady of the Pillar, Father Flores is responsible for St. Anthony in Pescadero and Our Lady of the Refuge in La Honda – mission churches in rural areas.
“I feel as if I am on a mission,” Father Flores said, “witnessing conditions that I thought could not be found in the United States – humble families living in crowded, small farms but with an immense faith.” He said that one of his challenges is to unite the community and help them grow in their faith, sharing their riches but respecting their differences.
“When I said ‘yes’, I did not know where the Lord would take me,” Father Flores said. He continues to follow God’s call and feels the journey has been worthwhile.
“There is no fear because God chooses us not because we are the best but because he wants instruments that accept to be chosen,” he said.
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