Three Jesuits from the Jesuits West Province of the Society of Jesus were ordained to the priesthood at American Martyrs Catholic Church in Manhattan Beach, California, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. The Most Reverend José Gomez, archbishop of Los Angeles, presided over the Mass and served as the ordaining bishop. It was a joyful and sacred milestone for Dominic Chai, S.J., Ulises Covarrubias, S.J., and Fernando Saldivar Jr., S.J.
Both Chai and Saldivar have been assigned to LMU starting in the fall semester of 2025. Chai, will serve as associate dean for Strategy and Mission in the LMU College of Business Administration; Saldivar, will act as the special assistant to the dean of LMU Loyola Law School and affiliate faculty in human rights.
Surrounded by family, friends, fellow Jesuits, and members of the local Catholic community, the ordinands committed their lives in service to God and the Church through the priesthood. The Mass of Ordination included traditional rites such as the laying on of hands, the prayer of consecration, and the vesting with stole and chasuble — powerful symbols of the priestly office.
The Jesuits West Province, which includes 10 Western U.S. states, is one of the largest and most dynamic in the world. The ordination of these three men reflects the continuing vitality of Jesuit vocations and the importance of Ignatian spirituality in today’s world.
Archbishop Gomez, who has frequently praised the Jesuits for their contributions to education, social justice, and spiritual formation in Southern California, expressed gratitude for their ongoing commitment to service and community.
A fourth man, Peter Berger, S.J., from the Jesuits West Province, was also ordained to the priesthood the previous week in the Diocese of Yakima, Washington.
As newly ordained priests, these men will now teach, guide, and serve the people of God according to the Jesuit charism: “for the greater glory of God.” Their ordination serves as a reminder of the enduring call to serve, the strength of religious community, and the hope that springs from faith and purpose.
