The following comes from a Nov. 13 story in Oregon’s Catholic Sentinel.

A California Jesuit has been appointed to lead the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus, which includes Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

As part of the ongoing national realignment of the Jesuit provinces in the United States, Father Scott Santarosa will become provincial of the new USA Western Province when the existing Oregon and California Provinces join. He will take office in the summer of 2014.

Father Santarosa succeeds Father Patrick Lee, who has served as the provincial since 2008.

The new provincial is a graduate of Jesuit High School in Sacramento, Calif. and Santa Clara University. After a year spent with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, he entered the Society of Jesus in 1989. After a course of preparatory studies in philosophy and theology he was ordained in 2000 and took final vows in 2007. After ordination he worked for five years at Verbum Dei High School in Los Angeles.

While there he taught religious studies and was campus minister. He also served as vice president for development and communication for two years and as the acting principal for another year.

Since 2006 he has ministered at Dolores Mission in inner city Los Angeles as pastor. During his first years there he was also the superior of the Jesuit community attached to the parish. He has served on a number of boards of Jesuit institutions and been a consultor to both the provincials of the California and Oregon Provinces.

Father General Adolfo Nicolás, the Jesuit Superior General, made the choice.

Father Lee says he is “very happy” with the selection, adding that Father Santarosa has qualities needed to care for the men and the ministries of the province.

“I trust his commitment to the Society and the Church,” Father Lee says.

“I feel it is an honor to walk with my Jesuit brothers and lay companions in the Northwest,” Father Santarosa says. “It will be a privilege to get an inside view of their great goodness and the fine work they have been and are doing, and to live our common Jesuit vocation together as friends in the Lord.”

To read Father Santarosa’s prayer at the pro-abortion state assembly opening session on Dec. 6, 2012, click here.

To read the original story, click here.