Meet Our Priests and Deacons

Our Pastor, Reverend Steve Sallot
I was born in Tustin, California in the era of orange groves and few freeways. Along with my three siblings, we were raised in the Santa Ana/Tustin area where my mother still resides. After graduating from St. Cecilia Grammar School and then Mater Dei High School, I had a short stint at UCIrvine prior to entering the Seminary in Camarillo, California. Ordained a diocesan priest in 1980, I ministered in several great parishes in Orange County, including Our Lady Queen of Angels in Newport Beach, St. Angela Merici in Brea, and Santiago de Compostela in Lake Forest. In 1992, Bishop Norman McFarland asked me to return to my alma mater, Mater Dei High School. Initially apprehensive that some of my disciplinary deans were still present, I spent ten exciting years there as Rector. In 2002, Bishop Tod Brown asked that I leave Mater Dei behind to become the pastor of St. Edward the Confessor in Dana Point where I have had the opportunity to rediscover my love for parish ministry. In June 2004, in addition to serving as pastor at St. Edward, I became the administrator of our neighboring parish, San Felipe de Jesus in Capistrano Beach.  In 2008, when Bishop Tod Brown declared that San Felipe de Jesus become a "mission" and formally a chapel of St. Edward the Confessor, I currently pastor both.
You may contact Fr. Steve via email or contact him by telephone at (949) 429-2880.
 

Reverend Chris Heath - Parochial Vicar
I was born in Cincinnati, OH and my parents, Ned & Bonnie Heath, moved to southern California when I was 1 year old. I have lived in Orange County most of my life. I am the oldest of four boys (Cary and his family live in the Seattle area, Jeff lives here in OC, and Dave and his wife live in Cancun, Mexico). My home parish is Holy Family in Orange, which became the Cathedral church when the Diocese of Orange began in 1976. I went to public schools through the 10th grade, and attended religious education at Holy Family, which was run by the Sisters Devoted to the Sacred Heart. It was these Sisters, together with some great priests at my parish, who inspired me to consider a vocation to the priesthood.

I entered Our Lady Queen of Angels High School Seminary in San Fernando, CA, my junior year in high school, and was graduated in 1979 (my alma mater no longer exists). I continued on to St. John’s Seminary College in Camarillo, CA, where I received a BA in liberal arts, with a major concentration in philosophy and a minor concentration in chemistry (the college no longer exists). My post-graduate studies continued at St. John’s Major Seminary (also in Camarillo) where I received a Masters of Divinity in 1987.

I was ordained a transitional deacon April 9, 1988, and a priest on October 1, 1988 by Bishop Norman MacFarland. I have been assigned as parochial vicar at Our Lady Queen of Angels in Newport Beach (1988-1992), St. Kilian in Mission Viejo (1992-1993), St. Cecilia in Tustin (1993-1999), and Our Lady of Fatima in San Clemente (1999-2002). I was Pastor of La Purisima Church in Orange 2002-2006, where I oversaw the building of a new 1200-seat church, improved the finances of the parish and school, increased the membership of the parish and the size of the parish’s geographic boundaries, and led the people through some tough spiritual and community problems. Bishop Tod Brown granted me a sabbatical July-December 2006, and then I was assigned temporarily as the Catholic Chaplain at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach and lived in residence at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel on the Balboa Peninsula January-June 2007. Bishop Brown then assigned me as parochial vicar here at St. Edward July 2007, where I have been happy ever since.

I love being a priest! Saying Mass, hearing confessions, teaching and preaching, spiritual direction: this is what I was ordained for and how I feel the most fulfilled in my vocation. I consider myself to be a faithful son of Mary and the Church, my favorite saints are John Vianney (patron of priests), and St. Joseph. I am a Benedictine Oblate with St. Andrew’s Abbey in Valyermo, CA. I am a law enforcement chaplain with various agencies. I am the Chaplain of Catholics at Work, a national professional organization. I sit on the boards of two charities, Military Children’s Charity and Ave Maria Catholic Donations. I write for the Catholic Business Journal online, and dabble with professional writing. I like to read books on Catholic theology, the saints, the angels, and deliverance ministry, as well as works of fiction.
You may contact Fr. Chris via email or contact him by telephone at (949) 542-4312.
 

Reverend Mario Juarez - Parochial Vicar
I was born on November 23, 1979 in Bellflower, California. I am a first generation Mexican American who has been educated in both the United States and Mexico. For this reason, I speak both English and Spanish with fluency. Hence, I completed my first two years of elementary school here in United States. Then, I did six years of school in Mexico where I completed elementary school and two years of junior high school. At the age of fifteen, I moved back to the United States and completed high school as well as two years of community college.

Growing up, my home parish was Our Lady of Guadalupe-Delhi Church in Santa Ana. At age 20, upon deciding to pursue a calling for the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church, I entered Saint John's Seminary College. There, I graduated with a major in Spanish and minor in Philosophy. I completed my studies at Saint John's Seminary in Camarillo and my theological formation in May of 2009. Four years ago, my new home parish became St. Pius V in Buena Park.

I was ordained a Roman Catholic Priest on June 6, 2009 at St. Columban in Garden Grove. I perceive my calling to the priesthood to be a gift from God. By embracing this calling, I am not simply responding to a call rather I am responding to the unconditional love of God manifested in his calling. Therefore, it is with great conviction that I respond yes to the Lord and have strong faith that he has and will continue to walk with me every step of the way. Thus, it is my desire to be ordained a priest for the Diocese of Orange and be able to share with others God's love through priestly ministry.
You may contact Fr. Mario via email or contact him by telephone at (949) 496-1307 x2870.
 

Deacon Ron Tiberi
I was born in La Jolla California and my parents moved to San Clemente when I was just a year old. My father bought a small shoe repair shop and it expanded over the years into a store. I had the typical 1950’s childhood in an Italian family. My grandparents lived next door; one uncle was two doors down and the other across the street. I am the oldest of five; I have three younger brothers and one sister.

I attended elementary school at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, and was taught by Maryknoll nuns. In eighth grade I transferred to the newly opened Our Lady of Fatima school and was the first class to graduate from there. I attended San Clemente High School, graduating in 1971. After high school I attended Saddleback College part time.

While in high school I worked for various places, eventually landing in the family business. In 1974 I went to work for a chain of stores, where I was assigned to work at the locations in Cerritos and Puente Hills. In 1975 I was promoted to Manager at their Palm Springs store.

It was there that I met my wife, Debra in 1976 and we married on July 3, 1977 at Our Lady of Fatima in San Clemente. After the wedding we moved back to San Clemente to work for the family business. In 1980 our son Adam was born, followed by Danelle in 1982. While the children were growing up, Deb and I were active members of the Mission San Juan Capistrano. In 1994 we attended Cursillo weekend at Marywood Pastoral Center in Orange. This was a life changing experience for both of us and we became more involved in parish activities and in the Cursillo movement.

Sometime in 1999-2000 I started to feel that God was calling me to a deeper ministry. I had been inspired by and attracted to the Diaconate and admired the Deacons I saw serving the Cursillo movement. In 2002 I entered into the formal discernment process for the Permanente Diaconate, and Debra entered her own discernment process. This is a ministry that affects the entire family so both husband and wife need to determine if God is calling them to serve. I started the four-year training program in September 2003 and was ordained in May 2007.

My ministry started at the Mission San Juan Capistrano and in January 2009 we were transferred to St. Edward the Confessor. My mandate is to serve and I do so by presiding over funeral vigils, helping the bereavement ministry, assisting the priests at Mass and other task the priests and the parish needs of me. To serve you and this wonderful parish has been one of the greatest gifts God has given me.

Debra and I enjoy traveling, visiting our children in St. Louis and Seattle, and sharing wonderful evenings with friends and family.
You may contact Deacon Ron via email or leave him a message at (949) 496-1307, ext 2505 (voicemail) and he will get back to you.
 

Deacon Victor Samano
I was born in August 26, 1943 in Moroleόn Guanajuato, Mѐxico. At the age of 8 I became an altar server (monaguillo) for several years. A priest and uncle of mine on my father’s side invited me to the seminary when I was 12 years old. After one year in the seminary in Guadalajara Jalisco, I decided that my call was definitely not to become a priest. I returned home and finished the 8th grade in my hometown.

In 1961 I met Martha, my wife of 45 years of marriage (married on February 10, 1965). Two of our children were born in Mexico and the youngest was born in Laguna Beach, California. We migrated to the USA in October 1968 and lived in Capistrano Beach for 9 years. I worked picking fruits and vegetables in Medford, Oregon and Davis & Lodi, California. Other positions I held were 4 years as greens keeper for San Juan Hills Country Club and 4 years as custodian at Marco Forster Middle School. I was promoted to Food Services as delivery driver for 10 years.

In 1983 I was attending San Felipe de Jesús regularly with my family when Deacon Jesse (Felipe de Jesús) Michel invited me to become a deacon, which I was not ready for. In 1985 Fr. Colman Nolan, our Pastor at that time, invited me to become a deacon for the second time. When Monsignor John V. Coffield visited my family, I asked him for advice. He inspired me with his love of God, La Virgen de Guadalupe and for our mother Church, so in 1986 I became an aspirant to the diaconate formation. Msgr. Juanote, as we call him, was in our home on a weekly basis helping me with classes and encouraging me to continue, even though I did not speak, write or read the English language. Juanote - what a living saint!!

After 4 years of formation, on May 19, 1990 I was ordained by Bishop Norman McFarland and assigned to San Felipe de Jesús parish. I retired from Capistrano Unified School District in August 2005 after 32 years of service. Another challenge came along; to assist our current Pastor at San Felipe de Jesús, working in the office, answering questions from the parishioners, and giving information for baptisms, marriage etc. I have served for 20 years as a permanent Deacon. I love and enjoy serving the people of God. I love the ministry and I love serving those in need, any kind of need. I have been blessed by God’s call and I thank God for the opportunity to serve. And for the work that my wife Martha and I do at San Felipe de Jesús, the Diocese of Orange and wherever we go.
You may contact Deacon Victor via email or leave him a message at (949) 521-0103 (voicemail) and he will get back to you.