Get to Know Fr. Joel Ricafranca

St. Mary welcomed Fr. Joel Ricafranca, RCJ, as its interim parochial vicar earlier this month. Get to know a little bit about Fr. Joel, his story, and his interests below!

Tell Us About Yourself and Your Family

I am Father Joel Ricafranca, RCJ, from the Philippines. I belong to a religious congregation called the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus. I have been a priest for almost 10 years. Previously, I was a missionary priest and was also assigned to a seminary as a rector both in the Philippines and Indonesia. I was also assigned as associate pastor at Saint Jerome parish in Chicago for almost four years.

I come from a family of farmers. I am the fourth of five children and have three brothers and one sister. All of them are in the Philippines except my sister, who has been living in South Korea with her family.

What part of the Philippines are you from?

I’m from the southern part of the Philippines, from Quezon. It’s about eight hours from Manila, the capital.

How did you decide to become a priest?

My vocation story started when I was still very young. I was in grade school when I became an altar server. My parents, especially my mother, did a great job in introducing me to the Catholic faith. She would always invite me to Sunday Mass and made sure I actively participated in the celebration of the Eucharist.

From there, I began to feel the priestly vocation that God was offering me. A few years after I graduated from high school, I entered seminary formation, which eventually led to my priestly ordination. I underwent 12 years of formation before getting ordained.

How did you end up at Saint Mary?

Actually, I didn’t know about Saint Mary until a few months ago when my provincial superior asked me to come here to accompany Father Joe as he began his ministry. I was delighted to learn that Saint Mary Parish is a community where faith is very alive because it has parishioners whose devotion and sense of prayer is active.

How did it feel to leave on such short notice and go so far away?

For me, moving across the world has always been hard. The Philippines is about 8,000 miles from the U.S. When I came here almost a month ago, it took 15 hours before the plane finally touched down. I had to adjust to the weather, the time difference, the culture, and the language. I remember it took me a week just to get over the jet lag.

What would you say is a unique talent you bring to your ministry?

One thing I love to incorporate into my ministry is a sense of humor. I discovered this skill while giving talks and leading spiritual retreats and recollections. I believe adding a bit of humor to my ministry will make me and the people more animated. It’s one way of making our faith journey more meaningful and alive. I don’t want people to feel bored. In my culture, we often include humor to help people feel joy during worship.

Do you notice any differences in serving here in the U.S. compared to the Philippines?

There are both differences and similarities. In terms of similarity, I’m preaching the same faith and the same Gospel message that the Catholic Church has always proclaimed. But one difference is the language. It’s easier for me to connect deeply with people when I speak in my native language. That said, I’m doing my best to connect with people here, and it’s going well.

Your English is very good, by the way. Did you learn it at a young age?

I really learned English along the way, especially in the seminary. We were trained to speak English in addition to our own language so we could connect well with the people, especially with those from abroad.

Getting back to your ministry, are there any devotions or specific areas you’re especially drawn to?

I’ve been particularly drawn to the ministry of hearing confessions, especially here at Saint Mary. Every time I hear confessions, I become more aware that healing, restoration, and mercy are what people need as they struggle with whatever they are going through. It also motivates me to persevere in my own priestly vocation. Even though I have my own struggles, I find that I can help others with theirs.

Saint Mary now offers confessions daily. Is that part of your own devotion to the sacrament?

Yes, absolutely. I’m very happy to have the opportunity to practice and deepen my devotion to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Back in the Philippines, I didn’t hear confessions as often, but here at Saint Mary, we do it daily.

How Do You Like Living in Mokena?

For me, Mokena is a place where tranquility and peace can be experienced. People here are very welcoming and religious, and I think this is a place where I can truly discern and contemplate the beauty of my priesthood, the beauty of being with the people, and the beauty of seeing them practice their faith.

What is the Biggest Culture Shock for You in the U.S.?

For me, the biggest culture shock has been the language. There are times when I struggle to understand what someone is saying, and I also find it difficult at times to be understood because of my accent. This has been a constant struggle for me, but I’m really doing my best to immerse myself in the “ocean of communication” by learning from the people I interact with and practicing my English.

Sometimes people use idiomatic expressions that I’m not familiar with, and those can be especially confusing. I’ve realized that the same words can have very different meanings depending on the context. So I’ve made it a point to study common phrases and idioms, so I can respond appropriately.

What Do You Do for Fun?

I am excited to play basketball here, and Father Joe was telling me that we can play once the gym floor has been finished.

Is there Anything Else You Would Like to say to Parishioners?

I just want to express my gratitude to all the parishioners of Saint Mary because each one of them is very welcoming, giving me words of affirmation and really motivating me to bring out my best in my ministry. I feel welcome, understood, and loved by them.