Bro. Gregory "Red" Domingo
Upon arriving for his Seminarian Pastoral Year, Bro. Gregory Domingo has provided his personal "biographical sketch" for our parish community. Bro. "Red" arrived in the Fall of 2010 and was with our parish community until June 2011. |
My name is Gregory Red Belisario Domingo. I was name after St. Gregory the Great, that’s what my mom keeps on telling me every time I asked her. My friends called me Red. Many people I’ve met asked me about my name “Red.” How did I come up with this name? How did my parents end up to this name? Red is my name and also an acronym of my father and mother’s name. My mom’s name begins with the letter “R” and my father’s name begins in letter “E”, and the letter “D” stands for our great last name. Is it not cute? Red is short, simple and easy to remember.
I was born to a Catholic family on the 7th day of October (Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary) in the year 1987 in a little but cute town somewhere in the northern part of the Philippines called Manabo. I am the second of three children of Rhonee and Eddie Domingo. I have one older brother and one little sister.
With words of purpose, I will now tell you how I came to the wonderful community of Yuba City.
With gratitude to my cousin and uncle, through the good works and their holiness, I was inspired to enter the seminary. I took the entrance exam when I was 12. Luckily, I was accepted to formation in minor seminary at early age (can you imagine? I didn't even have knowledge about what a seminary and priesthood were all about). I went to school at St. Joseph Seminary Bangued, Abra for my high school education. After four years of seminary formation, I learned a lot (but not to the full extent) about seminary life. By the grace of God, a vocation to priesthood weighed more than the thought of pursuing another course. Still, I ended up considering the path to priesthood.
In the year 2003, I was accepted to continue my education at San Pablo Major Seminary, Baguio City, College Seminary in Northern Luzon. For four years I studied philosophy. For four years I learned many things about life and love. Throughout these years, I came to love my vocation even stronger as time went by. In 2007, I graduated, having the degree Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy.
For eight long years, I studied for the Diocese of Bangued, Philippines. For eight long years I never doubted on my vocation until after my graduation, my vocation started to shrink. I apply for personal leave to have a glimpse and taste of life outside the portal of seminary formation.
However, after a year, I felt God was still on my side calling me to continue my seminary formation. I applied to the Diocese of Sacramento through the help and encouragement of Fr. Jonathan Molina (Redding) and Fr. Vic Teneza (Florin), who are ministers in the priesthood of Christ in the same Diocese. Fr. Murphy (vocation director) interviewed me for the first time. Since I was too young, he gave me more time to think, reflect and pray over it. Second time around, Fr. Brian (new vocation director) interviewed me. Fortunately, I was accepted and given a chance to study for the Diocese of Sacramento.
In August of 2008, I first stepped into the United States. The Sacramento Diocese sent me to St. Patrick’s Seminary and University in Menlo Park, California for my theological studies. After two years, I and 5 other seminarians from our Diocese were sent to Mexico for Spanish immersion. More than three months after that, it was time to go back to the United States. Not to my surprise, I was so excited to move my things to St. Isidore Church in Yuba City for my pastoral year.
Here I am, with the blessings of the Lord, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, spending a great time serving and meeting with the great and wonderful people of Yuba City.
I love playing sports, hiking, visit historical and tourist spots, traveling, watching movies, reading books (spiritual and fantasy, history and thrillers) as my recreation time. I am adventurous person. I love to go out and discover the beauty of the God’s creation through people and nature. But in an especially way, I love Yuba City. I am having great time as I observe and experienced rectory life, parish life and ministry. At your service, I am here lovingly for the people of Yuba City.
Godspeed,
Bro. Gregory "Red" Domingo
