The Reverend Salinger Alcocer-Istre performed his first Mass at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church on Tuesday, July 7, and at all Masses again the weekend of July 11- 12.
Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel of the Diocese of Lafayette recently posted appointments throughout parishes and one included Father Salinger Alcocer-Istre.
Father Sal Istre, as he is referred to and known as to many, is the newly appointed associate pastor at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church and at the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Duralde.
Rev. Istre, born on Aug. 24, 1993 in Lafayette to his parents Linnea Johnson of Baton Rouge and Alex Alcocer of New Orleans, is a 2011 graduate of St. Thomas More High School where he graduated with honors. He attended Masses at Our Lady of Fatima Church.
At 17, fresh out of high school, Rev. Istre went directly into the seminary. The first seminary Rev. Istre attended and studied was at St. Joseph’s (St. Ben’s) in Covington and remained there for three years, the second seminary attended was at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Denton, Nebraska where he remained for six months or one semester. He also studied at seminaries at Mount St. Mary in Emmitsburg, Maryland for one year, and lastly he studied for three years at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.
As an associate pastor Rev. Sal Istre serves closely with the Pastor of St. Anthony’s the Rev. Hampton Davis. He performs all Sacramentals of Life (Masses, baptisms, confessions, funerals ).
His last post before arriving in Eunice was as an associate pastor at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church in Carencro. He served one year and was part of the school faculty at Carencro Elementary School. He taught seventh-and eighth-grade religion.
Prior to his service at St. Peter’s Church, Rev. Istre served as Diaconate (Deacon) at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Crowley. He serve an internship for six months in the parish and at a school, Redemptorist Catholic School in Crowley. He taught eighth grade religion.
Rev. Istre’s hobby or interest is his musical talent as an organist. He said, “I’ve played many years. I enjoy Choral music and have in the past been chosen as director of little choirs.”