St. Kevin Catholic Church 

Parish Administration

Fr. Zhaojun (Jerome) Bai, SVD

Pastor

​​

Dear brothers and sisters,

​

Peace in Christ!

 

I am Fr. Zhaojun (Jerome) Bai, SVD, your new priest and friend, you can call me Fr. Jerome, it’s easier.

 

A wise man once said, "Life is the process of cultivating one's soul." The more wrinkles that have appeared on my face, the more experiences in my heart for that. I have a very good priest friend, originally from Beijing, who has been serving in DC for 25 years, and I chat with him almost every Friday. He once said to me, “Zhaojun, you have been ordained for just 6 years, but you've already experienced more things than even some elderly priests-you were shot by paintball gun...”.  I laughed and said to him, “Ha,ha,ha", as Mengzi said, "When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a great man, it always first frustrates his spirit and will, exhausts his muscles and bones, exposes him to starvation and poverty, harasses him by troubles and setbacks so as to stimulate his spirit, toughen his nature and enhance his abilities". It reminds me of the text from St Paul on my ordination card, 'We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us." He laughed loudly and teased, "Oh dude, please stop reciting classics, let's talk in some modern language!

 

My family has been Catholic for many generations. Those Maryknoll missionaries were there in our village before the Communist’s governing in 1949. The church in the center was built in 1995 on the site of the old church, which was destroyed during Cultural Revolutionary (1966-1976). It brings back good memories of the kind nuns who taught us to pray and the seminarians who taught us to be altar boys. I remember the Eucharistic adoration every evening. And I remember one special night kneeling before the tabernacle when the idea of priesthood started growing. It never stopped. Later I went to the diocesan seminary.

 

In 2005, after I had already completed my theological studies, one of my friends, a Divine Word missionary, invited me to visit the SVD community in Beijing. It was there that I met Fr. Arnold Sprenger SVD, a holy man of God who became my mentor. We see him as another St. Joseph Freinademetz. He gave me two little books-one about SVD community and another about the life of St. Joseph. After reading them and seeing a bit of the SVD lifestyle, I was inspired to join them.

 

In 2007, I professed my first vows, and was sent to serve back in my original diocese. Then, in 2010, I came to the US to learn English at our College in Epworth. I never thought that I would be a missionary in the USA. Otherwise, I might not have neglected my English lessons in China. A year later, I began my studies at CTU, and in 2014, I professed final vows and was assigned to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in USW for diaconal practice. In May of 2015, I was ordained and assigned to USW where I was sent to All Souls Church, South San Francisco, as associate pastor. This began a series of rapid changes. A year later I was sent to learn Spanish in Quito for three months. This was followed in 2017 by a stay at St Catherine's, Rialto. The next year I went as priest in residence to St. John the Evangelist in Los Angeles, and this was followed by Our Lady of Guadalupe in Ontario. After five years and moving five times, I was back in All Souls Church again. I think that my true missionary calling might be like St Paul's-moving from one place to another. Nevertheless, I was happy to be back where I started, and I was gradually coming to see that God has a beautiful plan for me.

 

Now, I am sent among you, a wonderful community. Your kindness and hospitality make the parish being full of warmth and beauty, it is a "real home" —a place where everyone is welcome and respected, and the strong and harsh winds of San Francisco are not able to blow it away.

 

One night, years ago, I wrote a song in Chinese that I would like to share with you. May it help you to know me better and to recall your own journey.

 

I still remember the time when I left my hometown with a suitcase on my back, accompanied by the tears of my loved ones. Clouds flutter in the blue sky, and flowers are blooming along the roadside. The young teenager, with dreams in mind, ran into the distance.

 

The green-skinned train swayed and swayed, and drove me to another city. The warblers sang joyously on the high treetops and the air was filled with fragrance. The naive young man, the sweet dreamland is fascinating.

From five to nine, spring to autumn, with black beards coming out of his cheeks, his ideals have never changed. Looking at the green mountains with the melodious flute, the neon on the horizon has emerged. The fearless youth, following the stars, drifts far away.

 

This is a road that cannot be turned back, and the journey is full of unknown and lonely. I have experienced hesitation, disappointment, and injury many times, but love has always been in my heart.

 

Thank God to accompany me on this journey all the time, and to bring me among you such a beautiful community. Thank you so much for your loving support, tender care, unceasing encouragement and insisting prayer. I’m still struggling with my English and Spanish, if some of my expression bothers you, please forgive and correct me. As you know, I would like to dedicate my life to serve the people of God, and to walk with you side by side on the journey to the kingdom of God.

May the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people!

​

Yours,

​

Fr. Jerome

Email: pastor@stkevinsf.org

​​​