[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 12 (Wednesday, February 4, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E116]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING FATHER JOSE LUIS OCHOA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GRACE F. NAPOLITANO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 4, 2004

  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, it is with tremendous respect that I 
rise today to honor Father Jose Luis Ochoa, who is retiring from his 
post with the parish of St. Pius X in the City of Santa Fe Springs to 
return to Guadalajara, Mexico and work with the Guadalupe Missionaries. 
Throughout his career of service, Father Ochoa has spread faith and 
charity throughout many parts of the world.
  Father Jose Luis Ochoa was born in Mexico on December 5, 1940, the 
third child of seven children. In 1953 he entered the ``Diocesano de 
Mexico'' seminar. In 1956, he continued his schooling at the 
``Seminario de Misiones'' with the Jesuits. Even during his vacations 
from the seminary, he would dedicate his time to travel outside of 
Mexico wherever there was a need for priests.
  On July 10, 1966, he was ordained at the chapel ``Seminario de 
Misiones'' and assigned as a missionary to Kenya, Africa. Upon his 
arrival in Nairobi, Kenya, Father Ochoa began to work as a vicar in the 
parish of Amakura. While there, he built a secondary school for girls 
to help instill in them the values of dignity and self-respect and help 
them reject exploitative and unhealthy practices.
  In 1975, he was assigned back to Mexico to serve as a Director to the 
Department of Promotions and Development. This work was a necessity for 
the ``Instituto de Misioneros de Guadalupe,'' and he worked with 
Bishops from different Archdioceses and became responsible for getting 
financial and vocational opportunities for the missions.
  After spending some time in Switzerland, Father Ochoa returned to 
Mexico once again in 1985 to help form a Seminary School in 
Guadalajara. While there, he also taught classes at a local school, 
helped construct a temple and a secondary school and started a food 
bank for the less fortunate.
  In January 1991, he departed to Los Angeles to be an administrator in 
charge of a home for Guadalupe Missionaries and was in charge of all 
missionary work. While in Los Angeles, he promoted the Integral System 
of New Evangelization program. From 1996 to 2004, he served in several 
parishes of the Archdioceses, with the permission of the Guadalupe 
Missionaries. His last assignment for the past four years was at St. 
Pius X in the City of Santa Fe Springs, where he brought great joy to 
the parishioners.
  I want to thank Father Ochoa for all he has done for my community and 
many communities throughout the world. I ask my colleagues to join me 
in wishing him good health and best wishes in his future endeavors.

                          ____________________