Angelus News | July 31-August 7, 2020 | Vol. 5 No. 21

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Jonathan Nestico
Age: 31
Hometown: Santa Clarita
Home parish: St. Clare of Assisi Church, Canyon Country
Parish assignment: St. Charles Borromeo Church,
North Hollywood
about that.”
Talk to Nestico about his upbringing and it becomes clear
that he was meant for the path he’s chosen. For as long as
he can remember, he has been helping around the parish,
whether as an altar server, usher, or singing in the choir.
“My life really did revolve around the Church and Church
ministry, even in high school, when a lot of people fall away
and question their faith.”
Interestingly enough, the people Nestico is referring to
include himself. He admitted that at certain moments he
definitely found himself “questioning” aspects of his spiritual
life. But rather than panic or fall away, he decided to take
matters into his own hands or, rather, heart and mind.
“I was doing my own research, not just taking the word of
my parents or religion teachers,” he said. “Really doing my
own thing, too.”
That thing included thoughts of a life outside of the priesthood,
of a businessman’s suit as well as marriage and a family.
That changed when he found himself watching a video
of seminarians talking about what convinced them to heed
God’s call. One of the men said he heard God telling him,
“If you don’t do it, who will?”
Nestico knew he would, knew he must.
“I had to do it,” he said. “God really knew how to play me.
It was like, you’ve given your life to the Church and you can
keep doing it. And you’ll do amazing things.”
VICTOR ALEMÁN
“It was like, you’ve given your life to the
Church and you can keep doing it. And
you’ll do amazing things.”
Though Jonathan Nestico was too young to remember, it is
well-known within his family that when he was born, 31 years
ago, his grandmother Monique soon after took him to St.
Augustine Church in Culver City, where she was the director
of religious education, walking with the infant in her arms,
presenting him to her workmates as she repeated, “This is my
grandson. He’s going to do amazing things.”
That amazing time appears to have arrived. Nestico’s first
parish assignment as a priest will be St. Charles Borromeo
Church in North Hollywood, a diverse faith community
with a rich history, especially when it comes to assisting those
experiencing homelessness.
As eager as Nestico is to celebrate the sacraments, he is also
especially eager to minister to the homeless and the marginalized.
“Growing up in Santa Clarita, we were kind of in this
bubble,” he said. “I was always very adamant about trying to
reach out to the marginalized and the homeless. The people
of St. Charles do so much outreach that I’m really excited
Jonathan Nestico processes in for the acolyte class of 2017
Mass at St. John's Seminary.
FACEBOOK VIA ST. JOHN'S SEMINARY
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18 • ANGELUS • July 31-August 7, 2020
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