Father Samuel Rosales, SJ, this year celebrates half a century in the priesthood. After a lifetime of service to the Church in Texas, he is currently assigned as a pastoral minister at Sacred Heart Church, the Jesuit parish in El Paso, Texas.

Rosales was born in El Paso, Texas, on May 19, 1938, and was baptized and confirmed at St. Francis Xavier Church.

He attended Guardian Angel School, (1945-1952), run at the time by the Sisters of Loretto and the Claretian Fathers.

After graduating from Cathedral High School with the Christian Brothers (1952-1956), Rosales worked with Fr. Harold J. Rahm, SJ, at Our Lady’s Youth Center for 7 years. During that time, he attended the University of Texas at El Paso and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology.

Rosales entered the Novitiate of the Society of Jesus at Grand Coteau, Louisiana, on August 25, 1964. He pronounced vows on August 15, 1966, and spent one semester in the Juniorate until it was discontinued. In 1967, he went to Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, where he studied secondary education and philosophy.

From 1967 to 1970, Fr. Rosales studied philosophy at Saint Louis University, also earning a master’s degree in urban affairs.

From 1970 to 1974, he was at Woodstock College of New York for theology. He earned a Master’s in Divinity in 1973, and a Master of Arts in Sacred Theology in 1974.

On June 9, 1973, Fr. Rosales was ordained at Sacred Heart Church in El Paso, Texas, by Bishop Patricio Flores.

After finishing Theology at Woodstock College, he was pastor of St. Joseph Church in Houston for six years (1974-1980). In the summers of 1978 and 1979, Fr. Rosales did tertianship under Fr. Robert Rimes, SJ, at Spring Hill College.

Father Rosales pronounced his final vows in August 1982 at Sacred Heart Church in El Paso.

He served at Sacred Heart Church and Our Lady’s Youth Center from 1980 to 1990 before taking a sabbatical at Loyola University, Chicago, and earning a master’s degree in Pastoral Studies in 1991.

Father Rosales then went to Grand Coteau, Louisiana, to serve as a spiritual director at the Jesuit Spirituality Center for eight months.

From 1992 to 2006, he served as associate pastor at Guadalupe Church in San Antonio. After that, he was director of Our Lady’s Youth Center (2006-2008).

Since then, Fr. Rosales has been in pastoral ministry in the Diocese of El Paso, and is the director of the Fr. Rahm Council.