Dear Friends,
Peace and goodwill. I am humbled and glad to be part of St. Perpetua parish community to serve as your parish administrator/pastor. I am excited to minister in this awesome and unique parish and as well as to learn from your faith life experiences as we journey together. 

I was born in Manila, Philippines and I am the youngest in our family of six children. My hobbies are playing basketball (Go! Warriors), bowling, walking, watching TV and movies, and do a road trip. I also love the adventure of travelling and visiting cultural, and religious places.

Before I came to the United States, I have worked as a religion/special education teacher and administrator in catholic high schools as a layperson. In year 2004, I came to California and I have taught as a special education teacher in a public school and then, as a religion teacher and director of campus ministry at St. Joseph Notre Dame High School, Alameda for ten years. I finished my Master of Theological Studies at Franciscan School of Theology at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley and Doctor of Ministry at Washington Theological Union in D.C. I also served as a permanent deacon at St. Joseph Basilica Parish, Alameda for two years.

Moved by the Holy Spirit to serve in a deeper way, I applied in our diocese to be a diocesan priest and eventually got accepted as a seminarian and I studied at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary at Weston, Massachusetts for my priestly formation which was administered by the Archdiocese of Boston from year 2015 to 2018. 

My call to priesthood was inspired by a powerful question that awakened my mind and pierced my heart: “Why don’t you do more?” This urgent call was nourished and fortified by prayer and my encounter of those people who were in need and suffering especially the sick people in the hospitals. After my seminary formation, I was ordained to the priesthood by the Most Reverend Michael Barber, S.J. in May 25, 2018 at the Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland.

I was blessed to be assigned at Most Holy Rosary Parish, Antioch for my first parish assignment as parochial vicar for three years. It was a joyful and fulfilling experience to be in this community and I will always cherish my beautiful memories of this parish as a young priest. Then last year, I was appointed by Bishop Barber to be the director of Faith Formation and Evangelization to date and I was also a parochial vicar of a generous and welcoming parish community of St. John Vianney, Walnut Creek. 

As I progress to the next stage of my priestly ministry at St. Perpetua knowing that this community was led and served with dedication, passion, and love by Fr. John Kasper, O.S.F.S., I look forward in this new and exciting adventure of parish life as we grow and nourish each other in faith and charity. I envision St. Perpetua to be a parish with vibrant prayer and sacramental life, works of mercy, and missionary zeal. Let us continue the great leadership tradition of my predecessors both clergy and laypeople and may we learn to open our hearts and minds to new opportunities and possibilities of ministry in the service of the Gospel.  

I pray that God will grant us the courage, wisdom, and understanding in our walking together as pilgrims in this life through the intercession of Mary, Queen of the World, and Saint Francis De Sales, patrons of our diocese. Thank you! 

Sincerely,
Fr. Jimmy