Fr. Juan J. Sosa
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Born Jan. 24, 1947, in Havana, Father Sosa arrived in Miami Oct. 27, 1961, one of the 14,000 unaccompanied minors brought to the U.S. through Operation Pedro Pan. He spent time at the Matecumbe and Kendall camps before moving into St. Raphael Hall, where the chaplain was Msgr. Bryan O. Walsh, one of the architects of Pedro Pan. Father Sosa completed his last two years of high school at St. John Vianney Seminary in Miami, went on to St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, and was ordained May 20, 1972, one of the first Cuban priests to be ordained for the Archdiocese of Miami. Until his appointment to St. Joseph this fall, he served as pastor of St. Catherine of Siena in Kendall for 19 years, and before that was pastor of St. James in North Miami. He is a published author and composer.
In addition to his duties at St. Joseph, he serves as president of the Instituto Nacional Hispano de Liturgia Inc., as consultor to the U.S. bishops' Committee on Divine Worship, as member of the archdiocesan Vocations Board, and as adjunct professor of liturgy and popular piety at his alma mater, St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary.
Currently Fr. Sosa is Pastor at St. Joseph Church.
What he did before becoming a priest:
“I worked summers in various places while I was at the seminary. I entered the seminary when I was 15 years old. I have worked in libraries, banks and even in maintenance for a while during those summers.”
When he knew he wanted to be a priest:
“I always had an inclination toward the religious life. For a while I wanted to be a (Marist) brother, like those who taught me in school in Cuba. Later on, after I arrived in the Pedro Pan program and stayed in Miami, I decided to join the seminary, for which Msgr. Bryan O. Walsh was very happy.”
Person or event that triggered his vocation:
“Brother Modesto from the Marist School in Cuba and Msgr. Bryan O. Walsh.”
Person most surprised by his vocation:
“My parents and some of my schoolmates and friends.” In fact, he told his parents by phone about his plans, as they were still in Cuba. They suggested he wait until they arrived in the U.S., but that did not happen until 1967. By that time, he was halfway through his seminary years.
His experience in the seminary:
“That’s where I learned that I could sing, that I could write, and Latin and Greek.” When he attended the seminary, only 10 of 200 seminarians were Spanish-speaking. He spent four years at St. John Vianney - the last two years of high school and two years of college - and six more at St. Vincent de Paul. “I used to wake up and say, ‘I’ll never make it.’ Now, nearly 40 years have passed.”
What he would be doing if he had not become a priest:
“I would probably be a teacher. I love to teach and even if I am tired, still draw much nourishment from teaching a group or a class. Also, counseling and spiritual direction - I love that.”
'I love to teach and even if I am tired, still draw much nourishment from teaching a group…'
The most difficult aspect of being a priest:
“For me, as a pastor, knowing that I have to fire an employee, and the funeral of a child.”
His description of the ideal priest:
“A man who can balance prayer, teaching and administration in such a way that his life reflects the values of priesthood with peaceful serenity; a man who sees Christ in others and others see beyond his frailties the Christ that lives in him.”
A priestly stereotype that should be discarded:
“A ‘climber,’ someone who thinks he can ‘feel’ better because he is recognized with titles or positions; someone who displays more clericalism than pastoral outreach.”
Hobbies:
“I was a tennis player in the seminary. I still play it and I love to watch it on TV.”
Shown here is a young Father Juan Sosa helping out at a summer camp for children during his time in the seminary.
What he does on his day off:
“Rest, sleep, go to the movies or to the theater, share a meal with good friends.”
Favorite movie:
He has many - “Forrest Gump,” “Casablanca,” “All About Eve,” “The Lives of Others”: “Movies that display opportunities for redemptive love and express it in some form of a turning point.”
Last book read:
Dean Koontz novels
Favorite type of music:
Classical
What he collects:
“Too many gadgets, gifts that I received from people, mostly paintings and icons.”
Person he most admires:
“St. Paul and St. Damian of Molokai, for their perseverance as shepherds in the midst of a most difficult situation; opposed and rejected by their own and others and yet faithful to their priestly commitment.”
His greatest disappointment:
“Anyone who leaves the Church without discernment and personal prayer.”
His greatest joy:
“Sunday and weekly Mass; receiving new members into the Church at the Easter Vigil.”
His greatest accomplishment:
“Books and articles I have written over the years; music I have composed; the satisfaction of writing and composing for others.”
His harshest critic:
“Myself.”
Thing he most fears:
“Not being able to shepherd to people in their life’s journey.”
