PRIEST RESIGNS FROM PASTORATE AT SIMI CHURCH; DIFFICULTIES WITH CELIBACY CITED.

Byline: Michael Coit Daily News Staff Writer

The pastor at St. Peter Claver Church has resigned after informing the region's Catholic hierarchy that he needed help dealing with longstanding problems he had with his celibacy vows, church officials and parishioners said.

The Rev. Dennis Mongrain's resignation was announced to the parish during Masses celebrated Sunday. Monsignor Richard Loomis, who makes priest assignments as vicar for the clergy of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, made the announcement and read Mongrain's resignation letter.

``In my own personal life, there are issues in need of help and healing. I have at times throughout my priestly ministry of 20 years overstepped my limits in relationships with adult women,'' the letter stated. ``For this I am deeply sorry. I am seeking to be reconciled with my own brokenness in the hope that I will be a better person and can resume my priestly ministry and service to God's people.

``I am sorry for any disappointment I have caused you, however, I am comforted knowing that as I depart, our parish is stronger than it has ever been and enjoys a future full of blessings and joy,'' the letter stated.

Mongrain took over the parish in 1992 in the wake of his predecessor's indictment on charges of embezzling collection money from both the Simi Valley church and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Saticoy.

While the Rev. David Piroli successfully fought those charges in Ventura Superior Court, Mongrain led the healing at St. Peter Claver. He boosted the congregation's numbers and led a successful drive for the new sanctuary going up at Cochran and Stow streets.

``The community loved him, and for sure there's sadness,'' said Myrna Zanuta, a longtime parishioner who helps organize annual golf tournaments to raise money for the parish. ``However, things must go on. The new church is one of them. That's one of the things that he planned.''

Eileen Parker, who joined the parish when it was formed in 1972 to keep pace with the community's growth, said Mongrain's departure left many members ``devastated'' yet some hopeful ``that maybe he will come back to us'' in the future.

``He's human, he's a man. We're a people who are supposed to forgive, so I think we would forgive him,'' Parker said.

The Rev. Gregory Coiro, media relations director for the archdiocese, said the letter was read during each Mass because Mongrain left a week ago without many parishioners knowing why. He explained that the Council of Priests wants to ensure that personal matters involving a priest are made public to the church community.

``And so when a priest is experiencing some difficulty, that we be honest with the parishioners and say priests are human too and they have to deal with problems in their lives,'' Coiro said.

``He is now in a program of assessment and treatment,'' Coiro said. ``The important thing is for him to have the time that he needs and the space that he needs to deal with his personal problems.''

Whether Mongrain is assigned to another parish is not known, Coiro said. But he said Mongrain's future in the clergy is secure. ``Once you're a priest, you're always a priest.''

Mongrain's duties will be taken over by Monsignor Charles O'Gorman, senior priest at Santa Clara Church in Oxnard, until a new reverend is assigned to the post.

Parishioners said Mongrain's departure also leaves a deep personal void. They credited Mongrain's leadership abilities with boosting the congregation from 1,700 to 2,300 and prompting the need for the larger sanctuary under construction.

``Everybody loved him,'' Parker said. ``The Masses were overcrowded. It was never like that before.

``I have seen the changes as far as the energy that man emitted. When we heard he was leaving (Sunday), everybody in the church was crying. It was devastating.''