Parish Clergy

Rev. Al Baca (Pastor)

Fr. Al in a native of California. He was born at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange and grew up in the city of Garden Grove. The family have been and still are members of St. Columban Church. Having graduated from St. Columban’s school, Father went on to Garden Grove High School and then Cal State Fullerton. In his fourth year he entered St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo and was ordained in 1989 for the Diocese of Orange. The following are the parish assignments he has been assigned to: St. Angela Merici in Brea, St. Joseph in Santa Ana, St. Anthony Claret in Anaheim, and Blessed Sacrament in Westminster. In 2003 Father Al was sent by Bishop Brown to Rome to study at the Angelicum University. Father received his license in Ecumenism and returned to the Diocese in 2005. Bishop Brown appointed him pastor of St. Cecilia’s parish in Tustin that year and in 2006 appointed him Director of Ecumenism and Inter-Religion for the Diocese of Orange.

Email: abaca@stceciliak8.org

Rev. Christopher Tuan Pham

My name is Christopher Tuan Pham. I was born in July 20th, 1971 at Thu Duc, Viet Nam.  I have 4 brothers and one sister and I am the third child in the family.  In April 1990, my family had a passport to leave Viet Nam because my parents adopted a son who is American-Asian.  First we landed in the Philippines where we studied ESL and American Cultures for 8 months. Later the same year we settled in El Monte, California with the whole family.  In August, 1994, with the support and prayers of my parents and my siblings I entered Divine Word Seminary in Epworth, Iowa, but after  two years I decided to return to California because of the weather condition.

Returning to California I continued my education at Cal State Long Beach where I received a B.A in Philosophy and Sociology in 1999. In 2001 I entered Saint John’s Seminary and graduated in June 2007 where I received my Masters in Divinity and Spirituality.
On June 9, 2007 was ordained a priest by Bishop Todd David Brown. I am now assigned at Saint Cecilia Parish, Tustin.  It is my privilege and my joy to be present here.

Email: cpham@stceciliak8.org

Rev. John Block (Retired)

Father John Block was born July 16, 1936 in Louisville, Kentucky. His family moved to Miami, Florida in 1947. He studied Theology at the Gregorian University in Rome Italy while residing at the North American College. He was ordained a priest at Christ the King Church in Rome on December 18, 1963 for the Diocese of Miami, Florida. He received a Licentiate in Sacred Theology in June 1964. He was an assistant Pastor at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Miami, from 1964 until 1967. He returned to Rome for Graduate Studies in October 1967 obtaining a Doctorate in Sacred Theology in June, 1970. He taught Theology at St. Vincent De Paul Regional Seminary, Boynton Beach, Florida from July 1, 1971 until July 1, 1980. He served as Pastor of St. Mark Parish Boynton Beach from July 1, 1980 until August 1, 1997 at the time he took up residence at St. Bonaventure Parish, Huntington Beach, California. He took up residence at St. Cecilia’s on September 30, 2004.

Deacon Domingo Garza

Deacon Domingo Garza, born and grew up in Texas, married in 1968 to Margarita Juarez. They have 4 children, three sons and one daughter and 3 grandchildren. He was ordained to the Deaconate in the Diocese of Orange in May 6, 1995. He is active in the Neo-Catechumanete Movement in the Diocese of Orange. Deacon Garza catechizes families for the reception of infant Baptism and celebrates the Sacrament every second Sunday of the month. He assists with all Sunday and Holy Day liturgies.

Deacon Ngo Dinh Dong

Deacon Dong Ngo was born on June 14 in Hai Phong, North Vietnam. At six years old, his family moved to Saigon, South Vietnam. After graduating from Phu Tho Technology School and Saigon Law School, he began working as a mechanical engineer for Shell Oil Company and later for Great Ocean Company until the fall of Saigon in 1975. At that point he fled from Vietnam to the United States with his father, two brothers and two sisters. While in the States, he returned to school to obtain another degree, graduating with a BSEE from California State Fullerton University 1984. His career then began at Boeing Company as a Sr. Engineer until 1991. Following this he ventured into several businesses of his own, finally settling comfortably as a franchisee of 7- Eleven, Inc.. He is married to Thuy K. Dang and has three children. He has been serving on the Vietnamese Community Council at St. Cecilia church for more than twenty years. In 2001, Father Timothy McCarthy, Pastor of St. Cecilia’s parish, sent him to the diaconate program. After four years of studying and spiritual formation, Bishop Tod Brown ordained him a deacon on April 30, 2005.

Email: ngoddong@yahoo.com