Reverend Father John Silva Vieira

Reverend John Silva Vieira, faithful Roman Catholic priest, dedicated brother, and loving uncle, passed away into eternal life on Thursday, August 12, 2021 in Hanford, California, at the age of 60 years. May he rest in peace.

Father John was born on March 8, 1961, in Fresno, California, to Mr. and Mrs. Joe and Ernestina Silva Vieira, who preceded their son in death; he was the youngest of the family of five children. His parents emigrated from the Azores, Portugal to establish their new home and dairy farm in Hanford, California. Fr. John lived most of his adult years in Chino and Ontario. He worked at his family’s dairy farm and continued his career in the dairy industry working for ABS Corporation as a breeder, prior to joining the Roman Catholic seminary.

Father John attended grade schools in Southern California and in the Central Valley and later graduated from Hanford High School. After much prayer and discernment, Father John felt a strong calling to the priesthood in 1987 and eventually was accepted as a seminarian for the Diocese of San Bernardino. He began his theological preparation at the Saint Junipero Serra House of Formation in Riverside in 1988, while also attending California State University, San Bernardino to complete his studies in philosophy and pre-theology. He graduated from California State University, San Bernardino in June 1993 and was awarded the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy. From 1993 to 1997, Father John attended St. John Major Seminary and Theologate in Camarillo and distinguished himself in the areas of liturgy and worship, and received the Master of Divinity Degree in 1997. He was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood on May 23, 1997, by Most Reverend Gerald R. Barnes, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of San Bernardino, at Holy Family Parish in Hesperia.

Father John began his dedicated priestly ministry for the Diocese of San Bernardino at his first assignment as Parochial Vicar at Saint Edward Parish in Corona in 1997. He later served as Parochial Vicar at Holy Family Parish in Hesperia from 2000 to 2002. In 2002, he was named Administrator of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Indio and was later named Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Indio in 2005. In his desire to serve the growing Hispanic community in the Coachella Valley with his strong fluency in the Spanish language, Father John willingly agreed to serve as Administrator of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mecca while also continuing his very busy position as Pastor in Indio. In 2008, he was named Pastor of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Ontario, where he was able to use his foreign language fluency to serve both the Spanish-speaking and Portuguese-speaking Catholic communities of his hometown. Over the course of his 24 years of joyful service in our Diocese, he also served as Vicar Forane of the High Desert Vicariate and gave his time and energy as a member of the Presbyteral Council, the Ministerial Personnel and Placement Board, and the Diocesan Cemetery Corporation.

It was during his Pastorate at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton that Father John began to experience significant cognitive decline in his dedicated pastoral ministry. In April 2018, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease; after much prayer and reflection, he made the decision to step down as Pastor of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish on June 30, 2018; he remained in residence as Pastor Emeritus and continued to provide his joyful service to the parish in heroic fashion. In a letter to Bishop Emeritus Barnes, Father John poignantly wrote, “My doctor suggests that it would be best for me if I no longer had the stress and burden of being pastor, but he also encourages me to continue doing what I love to do. I love the people here, and they love me. I have been open with them about my health issues, and they are a great support to me.”

With the unwavering support of his family in the Central Valley, Father John made the decision to move to his hometown of Hanford and live with his brother and sister-in-law, Marcelino and Cecelia Vieira, who gave him loving care and attention in his final years; he continued to find great joy in his life-giving hobbies of deep-sea fishing, golf, and many family social outings with his many nephews and nieces. He continued to stay in touch with his close priest friends here in the Diocese of San Bernardino, giving them laughter and happiness on his visits. Most recently, Father John needed to be hospitalized during the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic and succumbed courageously to the effects of the COVID virus. He was blessed by the constant support and daily visits by all of his siblings who survive him and who will miss him dearly, including sister Leonilde “Lynn” Vieira of Hanford; brother Joe D. Vieira of Cambria; sister Mary E. Cardoza of Hemet; and brother Marcelino “Marc” and Cecelia Vieira of Hanford. Father John is also survived by 5 loving nieces: Nancy (Jeremy) Gray; Sandra Cardoza (Kristopher) Vieira; Christina (Jason) Correia; Jennifer Cardoza (Carl Taylor); and Michele Vieira Hyman; and by 3 loving nephews: John Henry (Elizabeth) Cardoza; Jason (Myra) Vieira; and Joshua Vieira, along with 4 grandnieces and 6 grandnephews and many cousins.

Vigil and Rosary will be held on Monday, September 27, 2021 at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 2713 South Grove Avenue, Ontario 91761; viewing from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM; Vigil at 7:00 PM. Funeral Mass officiated by Most Reverend Alberto Rojas, Bishop of San Bernardino, and Emeritus Bishop Gerald R. Barnes and numerous priests and deacons, will take place on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 at Saint Paul the Apostle Parish, 14085 Peyton Drive, Chino Hills 91709 at 10:00 AM. Christian Burial will take place at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, 444 East Lexington Avenue, Pomona 91766.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Diocese of San Bernardino Seminarian Endowment Fund in memory of Reverend John S. Vieira, care of Diocese of San Bernardino 1201 East Highland Avenue, San Bernardino CA 92404.

May Our Risen Lord grant Father John an eternal and lasting reward for his many years of priestly service. Vaya con Dios…Deus Vai contigo… Go with God, good and faithful servant.