 Dear
Friends,
Please allow me to share a little bit about myself and my vocation
story:
My name is Fr. Peter Lawongkerd. I was born and raised in Thailand, in
a small town with about 200 Catholic families.
God called me to this particular
vocation at a very young age. When I was little, my mom would wake me
up at 5 a.m. and take me with her to church. I helped in the sacristy
and prepared things for daily Mass. I was so proud to assist my pastor
as an altar server.
I entered the minor seminary
when I was 13 years old. During my high school years, however, my
dream of the priesthood began to falter. I started to feel unsure
—fearful and doubtful of my path— and eventually dropped out of the
seminary. After eight years, I decided to leave, to work, and to
experience life outside its boundaries. I worked at a coffee shop and
in a restaurant. I also spent time working in a hospital, where I
realized that the desire to become a priest was still alive in my
heart. Brother Don Bosco, a religious brother who had volunteered at
my seminary in Thailand for many years, continued to believe in me and
encouraged me to become a missionary priest in the United States. I
arrived in December 2009. I took ESL classes in Los Angeles for a few
months and eventually applied to the Diocese of Oakland.
I studied at Mt. Angel
Seminary in Oregon for four years, earning a degree in Philosophy and
Literature, and then continued my theological studies at St. Patrick’s
Seminary in Menlo Park, where I completed my Master’s degree.
I
was ordained a priest by Bishop Michael C. Barber, S.J., on September
5, 2020, at Santa Maria Church in Orinda, California —one of the few
ordinations held outdoors during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since then, I’ve served as a parochial vicar at Holy Spirit in
Fremont, at the Catholic Community of Pleasanton, and as a chaplain at
Santa Rita Jail in Dublin.
Now, I am excited, grateful,
and blessed to be joining the Good Shepherd family as your new
Parochial Administrator. I’ve heard many wonderful things about this
parish, and I truly look forward to walking with you, growing in faith
together, and accompanying you as a fellow pilgrim of hope.
Mutual blessings,
Fr. Peter
Parochial Administrator
|
3200
Harbor Street
The
word “Catholic” means “universal,” and our faith cares for all
our sisters and brothers regardless of the parish in which
they worship. One should give to the Appeal because there are
certain ministries and services that cannot be provided by a
parish but only by a diocese. With your support, the diocese
recruits, educates and forms seminarians, pays a pension and
needed medical care for our retired clergy, supports a
diaconate program and ethnic minorities.
