Reverend Father Andres L.F. Querijero, Jr. has only been in Calistoga since Oct. 5, 2021 but already he is reaching out not only to both the English and Spanish-speaking faith community at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, but to the community at large.

Fr. Andres as he is known, has replaced Fr. Angelito who recently retired. After spending the last eight years in Fort Bragg, Fr. Andres says, “Bishop Robert F. Vasa of the Diocese Santa Rosa asked me to go from Our Lady of Good Counsel in Fort Bragg to Our Lady of Perpetual Help; it was a message from God. I believe things happen for a reason.”

A native of the Philippines, Fr. Andres entered the seminary there when he was 12 but then left to obtain a BA in business administration and an MBA. After a brief career as a human resources professional, he felt God calling him back, and returned to the seminary at age 29 and received another master’s degree in pastoral ministry.

Once he was ordained, Fr. Andres was sent to start a seminary in Vietnam, and then landed in Washington, D.C., New Jersey and finally Manhattan. He continued to study, focusing on spirituality. Fort Bragg — where he founded a K-8 Catholic school. 

“I would like to see a vibrant community of men and women here; I plan to serve not just the parish but the bigger community of Calistoga,” he said. “I will provide not just spirituality-based prayer, but also that of action.” Fr. Andres will offer marriage and family counseling for members of the parish and anyone else who is in need just as he did in Fort Bragg. “I am still in contact with several individuals I counseled there,” he said.

— The Weekly Calistogan