Father Samuel W. Ward was ordained a Priest for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles on the Feast of the Visitation on May 31, 2003.  Father Sam was Pastor of St. Helen Church in South Gate, CA from 2008-2013. Archbishop Jose H. Gomez appointed him as Associate Director of Vocations in 2013 and to Director of Vocations in 2018. He lives in residence at Holy Family Church in Glendale.
Father Sam served on the Council of Priests for many years, including as Secretary/Treasurer for two years.  He has been a member of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, a fraternal group of Catholic priests, for 13 years and has served as Chaplain at St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy in Downey for 13 years as well.
Father Sam received a M.A. Theology and M. Divinity from St. John's Seminary in Camarillo, CA in 2003 and a B.A. Philosophy from St. John's Seminary College in 2000.  He graduated from UC Irvine Cum Laude with a B.A. History and B.A. Psychology & Social Behavior (1995).