A big welcome to Christ Cathedral Parish’s two new parochial vicars, Fr. Christopher Tuan Pham and Fr. Mario Alonso Juarez. Fr. Christopher has served as a priest in the Diocese of Orange since his ordination in 2007. He has been a parochial vicar at St. Cecilia Church, Tustin, St. Hedwig Church, Los Alamitos, St. John Neumann Church, Irvine and most recently at St. Barbara Church, Santa Ana. Fr. Mario was ordained for the Diocese of Orange in 2009. He has been a parochial vicar at St. Edward the Confessor Church, Dana Point and St. Pius V Church, Buena Park.
Fr. Christopher Pham was born on July 20, 1971 in Saigon, Vietnam. After leaving Vietnam in 1990, his family eventually settled in Orange County, California. He went to St. John’s Seminary, in Camarillo, California, earning a Master of Divinity Degree and as well as a Master of Arts Degree in Theology. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Orange by Bishop Tod Brown on June 9, 2007. Fr. Christopher says that his priesthood is how he lives out his vocation as a witness to God’s Kingdom on earth.
Fr. Mario Juarez was born on November 23, 1979 in the city of Bellflower, California. He is a first generation Mexican American who has been educated in both the United States and Mexico. He is fluent in both English and Spanish. At age 20, Fr. Mario pursued his calling to the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church and entered St. John’s Seminary College in Camarillo, California. He earned a Master of Divinity Degree from St. John’s Seminary and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Orange by Bishop Tod Brown on June 6, 2009.
Fr. Christopher and Fr. Mario began their assignments at Christ Cathedral Parish on July 1, 2016. I know that we will be blessed by their priestly ministry as we continue our journey of faith together at Christ Cathedral. May they be assured of our support and prayers as they begin their ministry among us.
Together in faith,
Fr. Christopher Smith
Rector