At the end of the summer, it was announced that Fr. AJ Sales of Holy Spirit would be joining the Bishop Gorman community as part-time chaplain.
He was given this position because Fr. Jacob needed assistance while continuing his studies in Canon Law for the Archdiocese.
Fr. AJ was ordained in July of 2024, and was very involved in the youth ministry program at Holy Spirit last school year, which allowed him to form a relationship with some Core Team leaders who are also Gorman students.
He shared, “I think it’s helpful because I already have a relationship with [Core Team leaders]…I’ve already seen what [the leaders] have done with the youth group.”
Students on the recent senior retreat noticed that he has a way of connecting with teens so that they can better understand the Catholic faith. Cade Seitman ‘26 shared, “One specific thing I remember is the type of style he had. He was wearing a graphic tee with ‘Hasbulla’ on it, just like my friends and I would. It made me really feel like he understood the younger generation.”
Students who are parishioners at Holy Spirit and who are part of the youth and young adult ministry are looking forward to seeing Fr. AJ at school in addition to church. Eric Landaz ‘26 said, “I am looking forward to hearing more of Father AJ’s homilies. Father AJ is on the younger side of the priests we have had so far, and he has a special connection with students due to that closeness in age. He also grew up in Las Vegas and played football for Palo Verde allowing him to add some humor to his homilies while still preaching the word of God to us,” echoing Seitman’s sentiment that he can connect with young people in a way many students have not experienced before in a religious setting.
It is evident that Fr. AJ has already helped teens through their faith journey. For anyone who is exploring their faith, he gave bits of advice. He shared, “Faith can only really blossom if you allow yourself to explore it.”
Overall, Fr. AJ has made an amazing addition to Campus Ministry and Gorman as a whole in the short amount of time he has been on campus, and students are looking forward to seeing him on Thursdays in Campus Ministry.
