Long-serving priest at Santa Maria’s oldest Catholic church dies

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - A long-serving priest and leader at Santa Maria's oldest Catholic church has died.

Reverend Monsignor James Colberg of St. Mary of the Assumption Church passed away at Marian Regional Medical Center Saturday night.

He was 92.

Ordained as a priest in 1955, Msgr. Colberg was Pastor at St. Mary's from 1974 until his retirement in 1999 at which time he became Pastor Emeritus.

He was also a high school teacher and school administrator.

He served generations of St. Mary's parishioners and presided at countless baptisms, weddings, hospital visits and funeral masses.

Despite serious physical and health challenges late in life, Msgr. Colberg insisted on saying daily Mass during the week and hearing Confession on Saturday.

Services for Reverend Monsignor James Colberg are pending.

St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Santa Maria celebrated its Centennial in 2005.