Michael Pham
Michael Phạm | |
|---|---|
| Bishop-designate of San Diego Titular Bishop of Cercina | |
| Native name | Micae Phạm Minh Cường |
| Diocese | San Diego |
| Appointed | May 22, 2025 |
| Predecessor | Robert W. McElroy |
| Other post(s) | Titular Bishop of Cercina |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | June 25, 1999 by Robert Brom |
| Consecration | September 28, 2023 by Robert W. McElroy, Joseph J. Tyson, and John P. Dolan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 27, 1967 |
| Motto | Unitatem in Christus (United in Christ) (Hiệp nhất trong Chúa Kitô) |
| Coat of arms | |
| Styles of Michael Phạm | |
|---|---|
| Reference style | |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Bishop |
Michael Phạm Minh Cường (born January 27, 1967) is a Vietnamese-born Catholic prelate who has been serving as an auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of San Diego since 2023. He was named Bishop of San Diego in 2025.
Biography
Early life
Michael Pham was born on January 27, 1967, in Da Nang in what was then South Vietnam. In 1980, when Pham was 13, his family fled Vietnam, arriving at a refugee camp in Malaysia.[1] The family emigrated to the United States in 1981, settling in Blue Earth, Minnesota. They relocated to San Diego in 1985.[2] Pham graduated from San Diego High School and then entered San Diego State University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering.[3][2]
While working on his master's degree at San Diego State, Pham decided to enter the priesthood instead. He then attended Saint Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park, California. He received a Systematic Theology Baccalaureate and a Master of Divinity degree from Saint Patrick.[3][2]
Priesthood
On June 25, 1999, Pham was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of San Diego by Bishop Robert Henry Brom at Saint Michael Church in Poway, California.[4]
After his 1999 ordination, the diocese assigned Pham as parochial vicar at St. Mary, Star of the Sea Parish in Oceanside, California. He left St. Mary in 2001 to become vocation director for the diocese. In 2004, the diocese appointed Pham as pastor at Holy Family parish in San Diego. He would serve at Holy Family for the next ten years.[3]
The diocese transferred Pham in 2014 to St. Therese Parish in San Diego to serve as pastor there. After two years, he was moved to Good Shepherd Parish in San Diego. In 2017, Bishop Robert McElroy named Pham as episcopal vicar for ethnic and intercultural communities and in 2018 as vicar general. He completed a Licentiate of Sacred Theology from St. Patrick's Seminary in 2020.[3]
Auxiliary Bishop of San Diego
Pope Francis appointed Pham as an auxiliary bishop of San Diego on June 6, 2023.[5][3] On September 28, 2023, Pham was consecrated as a bishop at St. Therese of Carmel Church in San Diego by McElroy, with Bishops Joseph J. Tyson, and John P. Dolan serving as co-consecrators.[4] As auxiliary bishop, Pham serves as the vicar for clergy.[2]
On his coat of arms is a beehive, which represents Saint John Chrysostom, his baptismal patron saint.[6]
Bishop of San Diego
On May 22, 2025, Pham was the first American appointed Bishop of San Diego by Pope Leo XIV, filling a vacancy left by Cardinal Robert McElroy.[7][8] He will be installed as bishop on July 17, 2025.[9] In June 2025, Pham authored a joint letter with Reverends Ramón Bejarano and Felipe Pulido announcing that a group of clergy and faith leaders will stand in solidarity with immigrants at San Diego's federal courthouse on World Refugee Day.[1] On that day, Pham led a dozen religious leaders in a protest that successfully turned away ICE and CBP agents who had been aggressively raiding courthouses and workplaces for months.[10][11]
See also
References
- ^ a b Odisho, Taylor (2025-06-13). "Pope Leo's First US Bishop Calls on Priests to Escort Asylum Seekers to Court: 'People of Faith Stand with Immigrants'". Latin Times. Retrieved 2025-06-14.
- ^ a b c d "Auxiliary Bishop Pham". The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
- ^ a b c d e "Pope Francis Names New Auxiliary Bishops of San Diego". US Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
- ^ a b "Bishop Michael (Micae) Phạm Minh Cường [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
- ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 06.06.2023". Retrieved June 6, 2023.
- ^ Selvester, Guy. "Two for San Diego". EXARANDORUM: Fr. Guy Selvester's blog of Ecclesiastical Heraldry. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
- ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 22.05.2025" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 22 May 2025. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
- ^ "Pope Leo XIV makes 1st US bishop appointment, fills San Diego vacancy". ABC7 Los Angeles. Associated Press. 2025-05-22. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
- ^ "San Diego's new Catholic leader is the U.S.'s first Vietnamese American bishop". Retrieved May 22, 2025.
- ^ Coronel, Marie (2025-06-20). "Religious leaders show solidarity during immigration hearings on National Refugee Day". ABC 10 News San Diego KGTV. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
- ^ Stone, Ken (2025-06-20). "ICE agents scatter as SD Bishop Pham, other clergy visit immigration court". Times of San Diego. Retrieved 2025-06-21.