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NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FILIPINO PRIESTS
Serving the church of the United States of America
Serving the church of the United States of America
Rev. Robert Victoria
By Joseph Pimentel / AJPRESS
St. Anthony Church in El Segundo, CA By Joseph Pimentel / AJPRESS
Fr. Robert Victoria says being in the priesthood is a challenging occupation but a very fulfilling experience. For the past four years, Father Victoria has served as a pastor at St. Anthony Church in El Segundo California. Prior to that, Victoria was pastor at Sacred Heart in Alta Dena and Sacred Heart Church in Lincoln Heights, St. Elizabeth in Rowland Heights and St. Anthony’s in Oxnard. Victoria knew he wanted to become a priest since the sixth grade. He says he used to serve at mass everyday at the Sta.
Clara de Montefalco Parish Church in Manila. He attended Our Lady of Guadalupe Minor Seminary in Makati. In 1986, he migrated to the US and entered St. John seminary. He was among the first class of priests to be ordained by Cardinal Roger Mahoney. He says, as a pastor serving in the US is very different than in the Philippines. “A lot of people here have lost of faith and dependence. We are called to be messengers of hope and faith to a culture gradually
22 The National Association of Filipino Priests (U.S.A)
losing a sense of the divine and relevance of faith,” he says. “We are called to be ministers of hope, faith and trust in God.” Victoria says being a Filipino priest has its advantages especially in a multi-cultural diverse place like Los Angeles. He says coming from a dominant catholic upbringing, he’s able to bring his faith and culture to those he serves. “We grew up with church as a family,” he says. “We want people to know that the church is their family and here to support them and help them grow closer to God.”