Fr. Dante Tamayo, St Jerome Parochial Administrator
Although he will be stepping into unfamiliar territory as the new parochial administrator at St. Jerome Parish in El Cerrito, Father Dante Tamayo is not fazed by the challenges that lie ahead of him. "That’s what I’m called for," he said..
While he may lack experience in leading a parish, the 39-year-old priest said that he brings to the community a caring heart and an attentive ear. "Listening and understanding are skills or gifts that, I believe, I can bring with me as I embark on my new assignment as administrator," he told The Voice. "For it is through these gifts that the presence of Christ is felt, experienced or encountered."
A native of the Philippines, Father Tamayo grew up in a large family that included a total of seven siblings. He felt his first attraction to religious life while in the third grade when his eldest brother was in the seminary.
But he credits his spiritual journey, in part, to his hometown parish priest. "He’s such an inspiration and model in my chosen vocation," he told The Voice. "He possesses most of the qualities that I admire most from a priest."
After completing his education, which included earning a master’s degree at Jesuit University in Manila, Father Tamayo was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan in December 1993.
Following his ordination, the priest was assigned as parochial vicar for a year and then as a campus minister for almost five years. Then he spent nearly four years as a "guest-priest" while studying for his master’s degree.
In 2003 he left the Philippines, moved to the U.S., and settled in the Oakland Diocese. Since then, he has served as parochial vicar at St. Anne Parish in Union City and at St. Isidore Parish in Danville.
Father Tamayo said that the most satisfying aspect of working in a parish is celebrating the Eucharist with the people. He added being with and serving the needs of the people will his goal as he begins his new assignment.
"To be a humble servant-leader-administrator of St. Jerome. To bring Jesus to the people. These are just some of the goals and hopes I have as an administrator,"
he said. .
Above appeared in the Catholic Voice February 18, 2008. Reprinted with permission.
