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. Charbel Grbavac
  
  Associate Pastor
- Rev. Diego Menniti
  
  Associate pastor 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 appointed 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 orthopedics: 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
  
  Croatian & Italian Ministry
  
  Father Ivan was born and raised in Zagreb, Croatia. His religious life began in 1962 as a member of the Society
  of Jesus. In the year 1970 Fr. Ivan continued his theology studies in Ireland in preparation for his missionary
  work in Zambia. At the same time, he studied Community Development studies in Dublin. In 1972 Fr. Ivan
  temporary returned to Zagreb for his priestly ordination. Following his ordination, he continued with
  Community Development studies in Ireland. From 1973 - 1976 he was in Croatia working as an Associate Pastor
  in Podvinje, a year after as prefect of the diocesan minor seminary in Zagreb and a year after as a minister and
  bursar of the Jesuit minor seminary in Fratrovac, Zagreb.
  From 1976 - 1978 he was a biennium student in Rome, Italy during which he pursued medical studies at
  Pontifical Policlinic Gemelli and received licentiate degree in theology at Pontifical Lateran University. In 1978
  he completed his preparation for missionary work. After three years of missionary work in Zambia, Africa, from
  1981-1982 he completed his tertianship which was in Croatia, France and Italy. By the end of his tertianship Fr.
  Ivan enrolled for his doctoral studies at Lateran University. Shortly after he was professed a Jesuit in 1983. The
  following year he became a Doctor of Theology at Lateran University. In 1984 he returned back to his
  missionary work in Zambia and Malawi. After 25 years since he came to Africa Fr Ivan was given in 2003
  sabbatical studies in Sangre de Christo, Santa Fe, New Mexico, associated with Santa Fe University.
  By the end of 2003 Fr. Ivan was welcomed by Mary Star of the Sea Parish. As Associate Pastor he worked till
  mid of 2012, when he was assigned as Administrator to St. Antony Croatian Parish in Los Angeles. In 2014 he
  was recognized as a Senior Priest. Year after he retired and came back to Mary Star of the Sea to serve the
  Croatian and Italian communities. Although he is retired, he is still active in the Parish and assists with the
  chaplaincy at San Pedro Hospital. Since 2016 Fr Ivan is a chaplain of Air Force (Space) Base, Los Angeles. Being a
  Jesuit he belongs to Southern African Province. Wherever he is he serves the People of God for the glory of
  God.
- 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.