Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

First of all, I would like to express my joy and excitement in being appointed pastor of St. Teresa of Calcutta.  I am coming to you by way of Immaculate Conception in Arlington where I was pastor since 2017.

My name is Fr. Ramon Santa Cruz from the Philippines.  I come from a family of 8 children. I am second to the youngest.  I was born on 7th of February 1963 in Manila. I attended Catholic schools from elementary through college and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management.

After working for 8 years as a lay person, I finally conceded and said yes to God’s call.  I joined the society of our Lady of the Most  Holy Trinity in the Philippines.  I was then asked to return to school to earn a Bachelor’s Degree of Science majoring in Philosophy with a minor studies in Religious Education in preparation for my Theological studies.  After graduating, I entered the novitiate in Belen, New Mexico where we were asked to learn the spirituality and charism of the order. From there, the community sent me to Russia to begin my theology in St. Petersburg, as well as to help establish a community house. Unfortunately, there was some difficulties in securing proper documentation. I, together with two other brothers, had to leave Russia and pursue our education somewhere else.

 We found ourselves in Rome, Italy where I continued my theological studies at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. It was there that I was given the privilege to be the deacon for St. Pope John Paul ll at one of his Masses. I then flew back home to my country to be ordained in the Philippines on March 25, 1999.

After ordination, my first assignment was in Rome to assist in the formation of seminarians, as well as run a parish.  In 2002,  I came to the United States to be closer to my youngest sibling who was terminally ill.  It was my good fortune that the late Archbishop Brunette accepted my application and I was able to serve as an extern priest for the Archdiocese.  During that time, I decided to apply for Incardination. In 2007 I was incardinated into the Archdiocese of Seattle.  In 2012, I became a citizen of the United States and have since then made this country my new home.

Yours in Christ,
Fr. Ramon Santa Cruz