My God! What a Life!

Take a seat at the rectory dining table at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Hacienda Heights, CA, where no topic is off limits, and listen in on the stories told by Monsignor and Founding Pastor James A. O Callaghan. Affectionately known as Fr. O, he has been described as a man's man and a priest's priest, a maverick who met archdiocesan confrontation head on, often armed with a letter of resignation. Father O was one authentic person; you either liked him or you didn't , says Father Jack Stoeger of the Cardinal Manning House of Prayer for Priests. Prior to his passing in in 2002, Father O agreed to share his remarkable life story, hoping to inspire people to commit their lives to Christ and the Church. An avid sportsman, teacher, and coach, this parish priest reminisces about ministering to countless celebrities: from Hollywood s Fred Astaire and Oscar winning choreographer Hermes Pan to the family of the Shah of Iran. He also coached accomplished athletes, such as high school students Ernie Cheatham, Jr. and Joe Amalfitano, taught the fast break to the Iranian Olympic basketball team and golfed with Gary Cooper. On April 16, 2011, his beloved church was destroyed by an arsonist. Since then, Fr. O s memoirs have been compiled into book form and the proceeds will be used for its rebuilding. So sit back, relax into your chair, and enjoy.