Father Phong Pham was born in the city of Da Nang, Vietnam, into a family of 10 siblings. On April 30, 1975, he became separated from his family when the North Vietnamese conquered South Vietnam. Three years later, he was reunited with his family in Hong Kong. Eventually, they made their way to the United States, and at age 16, Fr. Pham entered St. Joseph High School Seminary in the Diocese of Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 8, 1991.
Spurred by a profound desire to serve the poor — particularly those of his native land — Fr. Pham was incardinated into the Diocese of Thanh Hóa, Vietnam, in 2008. There, he began serving as the diocesan Episcopal Vicar and the General Coordinator of the people of Thanh Hóa living in North America. In 2016, Fr. Pham was appointed by Pope Francis as a Papal Missionary of Mercy.
In the fall of 2018, at the request of the Bishop of Thanh Hóa, Fr. Pham relocated to Boston, where he took on a special appointment for his diocese. His Eminence Cardinal Seán O’Malley of the Archdiocese of Boston tasked Fr. Pham with establishing the first Vietnamese parish, Blessed Andrew Phu Yen Parish at St. Clement. It was officially established on the Feast of All Saints Day in 2020.
In 2022, Fr. Pham returned to the Diocese of Grand Rapids at the request of Most Reverend David Walkowiak. There, he was appointed pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish in Jenison, Michigan, until June 2025.
Fr. Pham’s desire to serve the poor has never diminished, and it is with great excitement that Cross Catholic Outreach welcomes him to our ministry. As an Outreach Priest, he will spend each weekend exalting God’s compassion toward our struggling brothers and sisters around the world. One of his favorite Bible verses can be found in Luke 4:18: “He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.”