Reverend Juan Sosa, the esteemed and beloved Pastor of Saint Joseph, officially retired today, June 30, 2025, after dedicating 53 years to the priesthood. He devoted himself to serving his parishioners wholeheartedly, always welcoming them with a warm smile and helping them build a closer relationship with the Almighty.
He fully succeeded in his endeavor, touching the lives of countless people.
The good news is that he will continue to do so, maintaining all other activities; notably, he will remain a valued Board member of H. E. Dr. Ghoulem Berrah Foundation.
An excellent and convincing preacher
Father Sosa’s objective is invariably to engage individuals; his technique entails captivating attention through storytelling. He will find a story from a newspaper, from a book, or a scene, and connect it to the Gospel. That makes you remember the story and the Gospel altogether.
One of his latest stories was about a father unintentionally hitting his little one with his elbow. The child was about to cry, but when he saw the expression on his dad’s face, he understood that he was supporting him, so he started smiling. Then, addressing you and me, during times of confusion, we need to turn to the Almighty to feel His support, knowing that He is always there for us.
When Father Sosa presides over the service, you always leave Mass with a valuable lesson to ponder. He skillfully ensures that the depth of the Scriptures resonates effectively within everyday life.
A Perfectionist
Long ago, I observed that Father Sosa preferred the Mass celebrations to be conducted flawlessly. On multiple occasions, I noticed his gaze or his finger directing an altar boy or engaging in a brief conversation with him. During feast days or special occasions, Gustavo Mejia, a young man and a remarkably composed and efficient Master of Ceremonies, who had been overseeing the youth group for an extended period, was present. Familiarity with the altar boys facilitated his responsibilities. Father Sosa continued to coordinate with him.
I thought our Pastor was a perfectionist; he wanted to be both an excellent preacher and a perfect celebrant. We were blessed to have him.
I had no idea about his rich background until one day, when I attended an 8:00 a.m. Mass on a weekday. While I was focused on prayer before Mass started, Father Sosa announced that a Bishop from Rome was concelebrating Mass with him, and I barely heard his name; his face didn’t seem familiar to me. I continued to focus on prayer.
While receiving Holy Communion, I was floored when I faced Archbishop Piero Marini, Pope John Paul II, Master of Ceremonies.
I had met him 25 years earlier (now 35 years ago) in Côte d’Ivoire, at the time when my beloved husband, Ambassador Ghoulem Berrah, was special advisor to President Houphouët Boigny of Côte d’Ivoire, known as the wise man of Africa.
Archbishop Piero Marini was there to prepare Pope John Paul II’s September 10, 1990, visit to the country for the consecration of the magnificent Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro. Upon conclusion of the Mass, we were both delighted to chat and recall the good old days.
On that occasion, I learned that our beloved Pastor, Reverend Juan Sosa, worked with Monsignor Marini on the Liturgy during the September 11, 1987, visit of Pope John Paul II to Miami and have been friends since.
I also learned that our Pastor was a professor of Liturgy at the Saint Vincent de Paul Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida, a Catholic Liturgical composer, and President of the National Hispanic Institute for Liturgy.
No wonder why he is so finicky about liturgical matters.
We will miss him as an exceptional Pastor and remember him as a perfectionist. There are no words to thank you, Father.
We are grateful to have you at H.E. Dr. Ghoulem Berrah Foundation
Your guidance and friendship are immensely valued, as is that of Dr. Abdul Samra, a distinguished Imam. We sincerely pray that the Almighty continues to bless you during your retirement.