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Name: Gerald Hope Delamede Pedrera
Date of Birth: December 28, 1977
Hobbies and Interests: Singing and listening to music, reading, working out, photography, hiking, spending time with family and friends
Favorite Saints: Anthony Claret, Francis Xavier, Ignatius Loyola, Martin de Porres and Irenaeus of Lyons
I consider it a blessing from God to be part of a family who, though simple and striving, is very much loving and supporting. My parents tried to raise my siblings and I not just in ways that enabled us to face the various challenges of life; but also in the awareness that God is essential in life.
As a teenager, I got involved with my parish's biblical apostolate. the group would visit schools and communities helping men and women read, pray, appreciate and reflect on the Word of God vis-à-vis their life situation. This apostolate opened my eyes to people's hunger not just for meaningful relationships, but also for God's life-giving Word. The experience lit a flame, a desire to live a life in the service of God's Word, sharing it to God's people, whoever and whereever they may be. This inspired me to enter the seminary with the hope of becoming one of God and His children's priest.
For several years, I joined the Claretian Missionaries in the Philippines. Through their support, I was able to live out the life I want to live. They helped me grow and become the person and the Christian I am at present. As time passed, the desire to serve the People on the Move and those in multicultural communities grew. This led me to the Diocese of Oakland. Through God's grace and the Diocese's support I am continuing this journey of service with the hope that one day as God's priest I will be able to give glory to God, to reach out to God's children and to live a fulfilling and meaningful life; for indeed, as St. Irenaeus would say, "the glory of God is the human person fully alive."