Greetings in the Lord Jesus Christ! My name is Father Jovy Roldan. I am blessed to be assigned as one of two new Associate Pastors of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church. It is a great privilege to serve you. I would like to start by thanking Father Adrian Cisneros. We have briefly communicated the last few weeks of June, and it’s been great getting to know him. I also look forward to working with Father Jeff Wilson and Father Sergio Arcila, of whom I have heard many good things!

I grew up in Roxas City, Capiz Philippines. My father, Rafael, worked as a businessman. Though my last name is Filipino, I do have a little Spanish in me. My father’s mother’s side, is from Spain. I hope to go to “El Camino de Santiago” one day, but I haven’t made it to Spain… yet!

My father, who passed in 2019, was from a little City on the Region of Western Visayas in Roxas City, Capiz. My mother, Felicitas, was from Binmaley, Pangasinan Philippines. After she graduated from high school, she attended the College of Holy Spirit in Manila, Philippines. Later, she taught at Colegio de La Purísima Concepción at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Roxas City, Capiz Philippines and founded her own music school. She passed away in January 2024.

I attended St. Mary’s Academy of Capiz and then St. Pius X Seminary in Roxas City, Capiz from High School to College. I majored in Classical AB Philosophy, with a minor in English, and served on the Student Council Leadership of the Seminary. After graduation, I went to the Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas, a Dominican School in Espana Manila, Philippines. I attended the Ecclesiastical Faculties of Sacred Theology for three years, graduating with a Bachelor’s in Sacred Theology (STL). Then, after two more years, I studied Canon Law and obtained a Licentiate in Canon Law (JCL). After my ordination in 1998, and Mass of Thanksgiving at my home parish of the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, I served for three years at St. Joseph the Worker Parish and Diocesan School in President Roxas, Capiz.

Afterwards, I left the Philippines for the United States. In Stockton, California, I served for five years in the CHW Spiritual Care Department as a Catholic priest. During my time at St. Joseph Medical Center, I worked as a part-time Canonist on the Tribunal of the Diocese of Stockton while I was a priest-in-residence at St. Mary of the Assumption Church in downtown Stockton, CA. Later, I became the Adjunct Judicial Vicar and Judicial Vicar after the Very Reverend John JM Foster, JCD. At the same time, I was also appointed as Parochial Administrator. Next, I was transferred to St. Gertrude, in east-side Stockton, CA. After a year, I was assigned to St. Bernard in Tracy, CA for three years and briefly at St Jude’s in Ceres, CA before I moved to SoCal.

Most recently, I completed eleven years for the Archdiocese for the Military Services (AMS-USA). I was a Contract Catholic Priest at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Chapel on the U.S. Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center/ Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command (MACAGCC/MAGTFTC) in Twentynine Palms, CA. I love to listen to music, read, and especially to mountain bike. Traveling is another passion of mine.

Most of all, I am excited about helping you, the people of St. Stanislaus. To deepen your personal relationship with Jesus Christ, to continue to be proud to be Roman Catholic, and to spread the Word that Jesus is Lord!

Peace in Jesus! Father Jovy Roldan

BACK TO LIST BACK