Dear Parishioners,

Greetings of peace. I pray that you and your family are all doing well.

I started my first official day as your parish administrator this past Wednesday, September 1^st.  I am appreciative of  Msgr. Tom, for his support and guidance during my transition.  I wish him well as he embarks on the next chapter of his life.

I have felt your warm welcome and support since that day.  Saint Vincent’s is a wonderful community, and I am thrilled to be here.  I pray that our loving God draws us closer and inspires us to support and help bring each other closer to Him.

Parishioners always call me Fr. Dennis, which is my preference. Since our other priest’s, Fr. Danis name, rhymes with mine, we made a compromise that, to avoid confusion, he’ll give up his endearing name and will be called Fr. Ridore from now on. I think it’s a fitting title for him as a senior priest. I am blessed by Fr. Ridore’s presence, as he will be a source of wisdom and support.

I will be around and will be available for you. I look forward to sharing with you our stories and our faith. In the meantime, let me have a brief introduction about myself.

I was born and raised in the Philippines.  I have two brothers and two sisters. My father died 4 years ago. My mother tried to live in the United States, but after a year, she realized that it was better for her to be back home closer to her grandchildren

I studied Nursing after high school as I dreamed of immigrating to the United States since I was a kid. A nursing degree was a sure passport to be able to secure a visa during that time. A hospital in Washington DC sponsored me before I joined the seminary.  Healthcare and healthcare ministry are always close to my heart.  During my seminary formation, I  completed an internship program in Clinical Pastoral Education at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, where I ministered to terminally ill patients who participated in clinical trials.

Aside from my parish ministry, I also volunteered as a hospital chaplain. I lent support to the sick and their families and the healthcare staff who care for them. I completed a Master of Divinity from St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in Florida and an MA in Bioethics from Loyola University Chicago.

Since I was ordained a priest by Bishop Barbarito on May 4^th, 2013, I was assigned to two parishes—St. Helen’s in Vero Beach and St. Ann’s in West Palm Beach. Both have schools, and I enjoyed working with our students, teachers, and parents.

I will be bringing with me my love for ministry here in our parish. Please keep me in your prayers as I transition to my new role. Be assured of my prayers to you and your family.