PRIEST OF THE WEEK

Father Louis Solcia

Our Lady of the Rosary Parish

Diocese of San Diego

Fr. Louis Solcia, CRSP is the associate pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in San Diego. At 75, Fr. Solcia shows no signs of slowing down. His homilies are straightforward and to the point, often in defense of the Catholic Church and her teachings. One of his favorite sayings is that "The three virtues needed for marriage are patience, patience and patience." Fr. Louie is personable, friendly, and one of the warmest people you would ever want to meet, yet he is unyielding when it comes to doctrine. Many a frustrated couple has left the rectory when he refused to marry them until they stopped living together first.

When San Diego began celebrating Gay Pride Day, he was the ONLY priest in the diocese who had the courage to speak out against the event. Fr. Louie has a particular gift for reaching out to children and young people. Children who go to confession with him have no fear of confessing their sins and walk out of the confessional with new found resolve to be holy.

Fr. Louie was once approached to anoint a dying man who had left the Church and was not likely to take kindly to a priest barging in on him--and the man live 20 miles away from the parish. All Fr. Louie said to the man's son was "Let's go." Fr. Louie boldly walked into the sickroom , heard the man's confession and embraced the man who was in tears when Father left. Another soul was saved.