Pictured is Deacon David Armstrong and Parochial Vicar Romulo Montero of Christ Our Hope Parish in French Creek. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

CLYMER — Christ Our Hope Parish in French Creek’s Parochial Vicar, Romulo Montero, first became interested in ministry during his youth in the Philippines.

“It was a long time ago, actually 35 years last week,” Montero said. “I am from the Philippines and the Philippines is a Catholic country. 85% of the population is Catholic and the rest is made up of other denominations, including a small group of Muslims.”

Being one of the only Christian nations in the far east, Montero said there are many vocations. Ministry also runs in the family, as Montero said his last vacation was in 2021 and was to attend the ordination of his grand nephew. He has a few different nieces involved in different religious congregations as well.

Montero has been at the French Creek parish for almost three years. Before, he served in Tonawanda and Olean, and then he came to French Creek in December 2020 to serve both Christ Our Hope Parish’s two sites at St Matthias Church in French Creek and St Isaacs Jogues Church in Sherman.

The parish is a part of the Chautauqua Family of Churches, which is made up of six churches altogether including sites in Sherman, French Creek, Bemus Point, Mayville, Brocton and Westfield. Montero said the churches work together as one and the church leaders get to go around to all six each weekend and to different masses each week.

“It’s nice because we get to share the good news from one church to another,” Montero said. “It’s not boring and we’re not only stationed in one place. We get to serve all of these churches.”

Montero said that priests and pastors are very important for continuing the legacy of other priests. For himself, being a priest is a big responsibility, Montero said, especially taking care of the spiritual lives of the people in the parish.

“Spiritually, priests are very important here to continue the legacy of priests who have died or retired or transferred to another parish,” Montero said. “For the spiritual life of the people, priests are very important. God entrusts you to preach the good news to people and to take care of the spiritual life of your parishioners.”