Clergy

- Rev. Maurice Harrigan
  
  Pastor
  
  Father Harrigan was born at Queen of Angels Hospital in Los Angeles County, CA. He is the ninth of ten children, raised in Glendale, CA.
  
  Fr. Harrigan attended San Diego State University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and International studies. Upon completion of his degree he began a career with a Fortune 500 company. While his business career was taking off, he sensed a calling while travelling through Europe. Rediscovering the Catholic faith, he returned stateside and entered Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD. where he received a Masters in Divinity and Master of Arts in Church History.
  
  In 1996 he was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Fr. Harrigan’s first parish was St. John of God, Norwalk, CA as an Associate Pastor. Next, he was assigned to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Lancaster, CA for approximately six years. His next assignment was Holy Family in Glendale, CA where he served until 2005. Fr. Harrigan was named Pastor at Holy Trinity Church, Atwater Village, CA where he resided for approximately 9 years. In July, 2014 Fr. Harrigan was named Pastor at Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church.
  
  Fr. Harrigan worked with a variety of ministries in his early years as a seminarian. This includes the U.S. Marines at Camp Pendleton and supporting youth at several state prisons. As well, Fr. Harrigan credits his love of travel during his work with Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity. For 30 years he travelled the world providing retreats and conferences for the missionaries. This furthered his interest in people and cultures which translates into better serving the people of God.
- Rev. Raymond Perez
  
  Associate Pastor
  
  Father Raymond was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. After graduating from the minor seminary, he moved to Orange County, CA and joined the Norbertine Order. He attended Saddleback Community College in Mission Viejo during his first two years at the Norbertine Order. In the 1980’s Fr. Raymond studied at St. Thomas University in Rome where he obtained Baccalaureate degrees in Philosophy and Theology; he attended the University of Navarre in Pamplona Spain where he obtained a Masters in Theology.
  
  In 1988 Fr. Raymond was ordained by Archbishop Tomas Clavel. Following his ordination his education and duties continued teaching Spanish and Religion at a college preparatory school and receiving a B.A. in Spanish at U.C. Irvine.
  
  Fr. Raymond served as associate pastor at Mary Star of the Sea Church under Monsignor Gallagher from 1996-2000, As well, he served as associate pastor at St. Joseph’s Church in Hawthorne, CA (2000-2004); as pastor at St. Stephen’s in South Los Angeles, CA (2004-2006); and as pastor at Saints Peter and Paul in Wilmington, CA (2006-2015). He was the final Norbertine pastor at St. Stephen’s and the first Norbertine pastor of Saints Peter and Paul. While living at St. Michael’s Abbey, Fr. Raymond obtained a Master’s degree in Psychology from Divine Mercy University, VA. He returned to Mary Star of the Sea Church in 2019 to serve as an associate pastor with his main responsibilities in preparing couples for marriage and serving as a spiritual director of the Hispanic community.
  
  Fr. Raymond enjoys reading and studying with an emphasis in theology, philosophy, psychology, sociology, history, movie analyses, and literary works in both English and Spanish. He hopes to write a book on Christian symbolism and themes in movies. Fr. Raymond also enjoys watching NBA and NFL games especially during the playoffs.
- Rev. Diego Menniti
  
  Student in Residence and Maritime Ministry
  
  Fr. Diego was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Catanzaro-Squillace in Calabria, Italy June, 2015. The focus of his studies included Philosophy and Theology. In 2016 he obtained his licentiate in Social Moral Theology with a focus in Bioethics (S. Th. L. M.A. equiv). In the 2017-2018, Fr. Diego was in charge of the preparatory year at the Pontifical Regional Seminary "S. Pio X" of Catanzaro by the Regional Catholic Bishops Conference. In 2020, Fr. Diego obtained his Master of Arts degree in Bioethics at Loyola Marymount University, CA. In 2021 he began his doctoral study in Bioethics at Loyola University Chicago, IL.
  
  Growing up Fr. Diego dreamed of a job as an Egyptologist. In addition, his love of medicine was also formed at an early age coming from a family of orthopaedics: his Grandfather, Father and Uncle. Later, his encounter with faith led him to accept a vocation to the priesthood. While he continues his studies in Bioethics, he continues to explore the discipline as a synthesis of philosophy, theology, ethics, medicine and law which aims at one thing alone, the custody of man and creation.
- Rev. Ivan Gerovac
  
  Italian & Croatian Ministry
  Father Ivan was born and raised in Zagreb, Croatia.
  His education began in 1962 as a member of the Society of Jesus. In the early 1970’s Fr. Ivan began theology studies in Ireland in preparation for missionary work in Zambia, then later, Community Development studies in Dublin, Ireland. In 1972 Fr. Ivan was ordained priest in Zagreb, Croatia. Following his ordination, he was an Associate Pastor in Podvinje, Croatia, prefect of the diocesan minor seminary in Zagreb, minister and bursar of the Jesuit minor seminary in Fratrovac, Zagreb. From 1975 -1978 he was biennium in Rome, Italy.
  
  Fr. Ivan pursued medical studies at Policlinic Gemmelli, Rome, Italy. Following, he received licentiate degree in theology at Lateran University in Rome, Italy. In 1978 he completed missionary work in Zambia, Africa. From 1981-1982 he completed tertianship in Croatia, France and Italy. In the 1980’s Fr. Ivan began doctoral studies at Lateran University. Shortly after he was professed a Jesuit in 1983 then later participated in missionary work in Zambia and Malawi. In 1984 he received a Doctorate of Theology from Lateran University. In 2003, Fr Ivan also completed sabbatical studies in Sangre de Christo, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
  
  Fr. Ivan was Associate Pastor at Mary Star of the Sea from 2004 to 2012. Next he was Administrator then later Senior Priest at St. Anthony Croatian Church. Fr. Ivan retired in 2015 but later returned to serve the Croatian and Italian communities at Mary Star of the Sea. He assists with chaplaincy at San Pedro Hospital, acts as an Associate Priest at Mary Star of the Sea and also as chaplain of Los Angeles Air Force Base since 2016.
- Mr. Jorge Malca
  
  Deacon
- Mr. John Salazar
  
  Deacon
  
  Deacon Salazar was born and raised in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. He came to the United States when he was 18 years old.
  
  For 25 years he served at St. Francis of Assisi Church as a Catechist, Lector, Eucharistic Minister and Sacristan. While at St. Francis of Assisi he was ordained a Deacon. In 2019, Deacon Salazar began serving at Mary Star of the Sea Church where he assists in Mass by reading the Gospel, preaching and helping during Holy Hour. Deacon Salazar also assists with baptisms, funerals, weddings, quinceañeras, visiting the sick and attending to the community.
  
  Deacon Salazar had a dream to attend daily Mass and that dream has come true. He is filled with joy that God has blessed him with the ability to attend Mass daily.
- Christian Eguaroje
  
  Seminarian
  
  Christian was born and raised in Nigeria, West Africa. He lived in Nigeria for 15 years before moving to England where he completed his high school education.
  
  Christian first experienced God’s calling to the Priesthood after his first Holy Communion while altar serving a Eucharistic Adoration in Nigeria. He went on to study at Saint Theresa Minor Seminary, Ibadan, Nigeria in 2012 for one year and then he graduated from S.S. Simon and Jude Minor Seminary, Abuja, Nigeria in 2016. During his studies in England, he was not fully discerning the Priesthood and began to choose a different career path. However, this changed after encountering the Lord again in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.
  
  In 2019, Christian moved to Los Angeles for the College Seminary program. Since his move to Los Angeles he has been serving at Mary Star of the Sea Parish, San Pedro, a community that has become a second family. After moving here he also has discerned with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for one year while also studying at Los Angeles Harbor College. He applied into the Seminary program in 2020 and was accepted as a Seminarian for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He graduated from the College Seminary in Spring 2022 and will continue his formation and studies in Theology at St. John’s Seminary, Camarillo in the Fall of 2022.
  
  Christian enjoys playing soccer and running -- he played soccer for his community college team. He asks for your prayers as he responds to God’s call to the Priesthood, as well, he will also pray for all of you. In Cruce Salus.