Clergy and Staff
Clergy
Reverend Enrique Sera, Pastor
Father Sera comes to us after a long pastorate in Santa Ana. He was born in Holguin, Cuba, and came to the United States in 1962 as one of the Peter Pan Kids. He is bilingual and bicultural, a requirement for our parish these days. His educational background mixes theology and psychology and he volunteers his time at Catholic Charities as a counselor. He also served as a Navy chaplain on both, active, and reserve duty, serving during Desert Storm with the Seabees. He follows Navy football and Angels baseball. He hopes to bring together the various communities who worship at St. Joachim.
Reverend Gilberto Escobedo, Parochial Vicar
Father Gilberto Escobedo was born and raised in the state of Zacatecas, central part of México, and came to this country at the age of 19. His plans were not to enter the seminary, but rather to work and help his parents in México. But God’s plans were not his plans and he received the call to the service of God in the priesthood.
After working three years in construction, Fr. Gilberto entered the seminary at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami, FL. After 4 years of college, he went to St. John Seminary in Camarillo, CA for his studies in theology. He was ordained on June 10, of the Holy Year of 2000. St. Joachim is Fr. Gilberto’s third assignment. He is serving primarily the Spanish speaking community, but he also serves the English speaking community for he is bilingual. He is happy to be here serving this community and hopes to be here for many years of service.
Reverend Martin Bui, Parochial Vicar
Father Martin Bui came from a traditional Vietnamese Catholic family with six siblings. Even as a young child, he always had high respect for the priests in his home parish, but never thought of becoming one. He was not religious. All he did was attend Mass on Sunday just like everyone else. However, after graduating from college, while working with his family in a small business, he began to discern about the priesthood. He listened to Sunday readings carefully and discerned what the Lord had to say to him. He was attentive to the work of the Holy Spirit in his daily activities. Also, the weekly adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at his home parish began to attract him. Then, he discussed his interest with his pastor and was given the phone number of the vocation office of the Diocese of Orange. In the summer of 2004, he contacted the Vocation Director and told him that he wanted to become a priest for the Diocese of Orange. With one year of discernment, Bishop Tod Brown decided to send him to St. Patrick Seminary in the fall of 2005.
He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Tod Brown on June 11, 2011. The bishop assigned him to St. Joachim Church as a parochial vicar for his first assignment. Even though he grew up in Southern California, this area is pretty new to him so he still has more to learn. He is looking forward to learning and working with Fr. Sera and Fr. Gilberto in serving and building up the parish. He is looking forward to serving all of you and to get to know each of you. He is thankful for the warm welcome and hospitality he has received. Please continue to pray for him as he will keep all of you in his prayers.
In addition to its current family of shepherds, St. Joachim has been particularly blessed with several dynamic and exceptional priests in the past. Among these are Monsignor Nevin and Father Ken Krause. To learn about how these very prominent individuals have shaped what St. Joachim is today, please see the
Monsignor Nevin web page as well as the Father Ken Krause web page.
Staff
Sister Kathleen Marie Pughe, C.S.J -
School Principal
Beatriz Soto -
Office Manager
Chris Hemans -
Plant Manager
Mónica Castillo -
Financial Manager
Teresa Studdert -
Parish Administrative Secretary
Mirtha González -
Faith Formation Secretary
Pastoral Ministries
Kathy Lewis -
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation;
RCIA; Liturgy; Bereavement
Silvia Mondragón -
Formación de la Fe y Preparación Sacramental;
RICA; Quinceañeras,
Ministerio de Duelo
Alex Frausto -
Youth Ministry
Andrew Everson -
Music Director (English)
Francisco Amezcua -
Music Director (Spanish)
