On July 1, our new pastor started his assignment with us. He is Father Anthony M. Uytingco.
Fr. Anthony was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of San Jose by Bishop Patrick J. McGrath on June 2, 2012 at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph in downtown San Jose.
He is the fifth of six children – four brothers and one sister -- of Eduardo and Juanita Uytingco. He was born on June 10th in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, in the Philippines.
He finished grade school at the elementary department of the College of the Immaculate Conception in his home province. After finishing elementary school, he entered Maria Assumpta Seminary, the diocesan high school seminary. He then left seminary formation after high school and attended the Catholic university of the Philippines, the University of Santo Tomas in Manila where he earned an undergraduate degree in occupational therapy in 2006.
After college, he attended the Jesuit-run San Jose Seminary at the Ateneo de Manila University, where he finished his philosophy studies in 2007. In the same year, he came to the United States and studied at St. Patrick Seminary and University in Menlo Park, as a candidate for the priesthood for the Diocese of San Jose. He graduated with an M.Div. degree in 2012.
Fr. Anthony was ordained to the diaconate at St. Patrick’s Seminary in October 2011. After ordination as a priest, he was assigned as parochial vicar at St. Christopher Parish in Willow Glen, San Jose, at St. Nicholas-St. William in Los Altos, and at St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish in Santa Clara.
After very fulfilling and rewarding years of ministry at his previous parish assignments, Fr. Anthony looks forward to a change of pastoral settings and his assignment here at Queen of Apostles. He welcomes this new opportunity to serve God’s people in this part of the Valley of St. Clare.
Fr. Anthony believes that his ministry as priest is a wonderful gift from God that will allow him “to continue the work and mission of Jesus Christ to proclaim the good news and bring God’s people closer to Him.” Priesthood is a great vocation because it is a response to an invitation to serve God in his people.
In receiving his assignment to our Parish Community, Fr. Anthony hopes that “This new assignment will be as fulfilling pastorally as my three previous parish assignments. I found the people of God in my past parishes very supportive of the ministry of priests. It is my fervent hope that, somehow, the parishioners in my previous assignments have experienced, perhaps a deeper faith because of my ministry. That alone will be cause of joy and thanksgiving for me as a priest. This, too, is my hope and challenge as a priest here in my new assignment – to be God’s instrument in the holiness of His people at Queen of Apostles.”