HISTORY OF NAFP

In November 2008, Bishop Oscar Solis, then Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles and Chair of the USCCB Subcommittee on Asians and Pacific Islanders (SCAPA), invited 24 Filipino priests-leaders working in various parts of the country to gather in Orlando, Florida for a consultation meeting. The Rev. Michael Montoya, MJ, Executive Director of the United States Catholic Mission Association and Miss Cecile Motus, the Associate Director for the Cultural Diversity in the Church at the USCCB facilitated this meeting that led to the following plans: (1) to create a “national organization of Filipino Priests serving in the USA,” (2) to create a database of Filipino Priests serving in the USA, and (3) to host a national gathering or assembly of Filipino Priests serving the church in the USA.

From this group that gathered in Florida, Bishop Solis created a 13-member Ad-Hoc Committee in April 2009 to execute the plans. The Very Rev. Vicente DeLa Cruz (Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana), was appointed to be the Moderator of the Ad-Hoc Committee. He later became the Convenor of the First National Assembly. In August of 2009, the Ad-Hoc Committee met in Los Angeles, California to begin the process of organization, planning and leadership. At this meeting, the Ad-Hoc Committee was changed to the Steering Committee and the membership was increased to 20 to include other identified Priest-leaders. In November 2009, the Steering Committee gathered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to begin the process of planning the First National Assembly of Filipino Priests Serving the Church in the United States (NAFP-USA). The First National Assembly was planned to take place on November 10-11, 2011, at the Westin Hotel in Los Angeles, California with the theme “Paring Pinoy: Celebrating our Gifts.” Over 400 Filipino Priests attended the First National Assembly in Los Angeles and was considered the biggest gathering of Ethnic priests in the USA. At this First National Assembly, the official logo was adopted, official hymn and prayers were crafted, and future plans were made.

At the end of the First Assembly, a new set of leaders from various regions in the country were elected by their peers. The newly elected regional representatives constituted the new Leadership Council that planned and organized the succeeding National Assembly which took place in Orlando, Florida at the Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort on November 4-7, 2014 with the theme of “Paring Pinoy: Nurturing, Sharing, Witnessing our Call.” and continually execute the plans of the Association. Under the leadership of the Rev. Engelbert Gammad (Diocese of San Jose, CA), the Association was able to procure its legal standing through its formal registration with State of California as a non-profit religious corporation under 501(c)3 category. The registered official name of the organization is National Association of Filipino Priests-USA (NAFP-USA). Given this official state recognition, Fr. Engelberto Gammad became the first president of the Association. Under his initiative, he drafted the Constitution and By-laws of the Association which was presented to the Leadership Council for discussion, revision and final draft. The gathering in Orlando, Florida was graced by the presence of many dignitaries like Cardinal Luis Tagle, Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, Cardinal Roger Mahony, Papal Nuncio Archbishop Bernardito Auza, to name a few, and many other US Prelates and priests. This made the Second National Assembly a truly remarkable event. At this Second National Assembly, the Constitution and By-laws of the NAFP-USA was approved and adopted by the members in a plenary session.

Following the tradition of the previous assemblies regarding the election of officers, the delegates of the Third National Assembly elected from among their regional representatives the officers of the Association. Rev. Steve de Leon (Diocese of Richmond, VA) was elected president. Through his leadership, the Leadership Council was able to organize the Third National Assembly held on November 7-10, 2017 at the Royel Sonesta Hotel, Houston, Texas, adopting the theme, “Joyfully and Faithfully Sharing God’s Mercy.” Filipino priests from all over the country attended this gathering together with the large number of Fil-Am community members of Houston.

The Fourth National Assembly took place in New Jersey with Rev. Frank Lanzaderas (Archdiocese of New York, NY) as the elected President. The Assembly in New Jersey was a joint venture New York. The Fourth National Assembly was held on October 24-27, 2023, at the Hilton Meadowlands Hotel in New Jersey, with the Synodal theme “Communion, Participation, Mission.” At this assembly, the Most Rev. Anthony Celino, the newly ordained Auxiliary Bishop of El Paso, TX and was introduced to the Association. This first ever joint venture between the two states, two largest Fil-Am communities in the East Coast was a success; it was a national assembly well done. The Fourth National Assembly concluded with the election of the new regional representatives whose task was to plan for the next assembly.

Elected to lead the planning and organization of the Fifth National Assembly is the Rev. Jeff Fernandez (Diocese of San Jose, CA). This brings back to California the NAFP-USA where it began. The new President also has the distinct privilege of introducing the Most Efren Esmilla (Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia, PA) and the Most Rev. Reynaldo Bersabal (Auxiliary Bishop of Sacramento, CA), the two latest Fil-Am Bishops to the Association. The Fifth National Assembly will be on November 3-6, 2026 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Francisco, California with the theme taken from Romans 12:12 – “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”