Father Thierry Geris's Story
[Father Thierry was ordained to the priesthood by Most Reverend Patrick J. McGrath, J.C.D., Bishop of San Jose on Saturday May 23rd, 2009 for the Diocese of San Jose, California, United States]
I was born in Brussels, Belgium of a French mother and Belgian father. My first language was French, and the accent has remained with me to this day. I studied electrical engineering at the Ecole Polytechnique [1] and “Sup-Telecom” [2] in Paris. After graduation, I sought a job in the U.S., eager to discover new cultures and peoples. I found them in Houston, Texas where I worked for 12 years as a software engineer. I then moved to the Bay Area and worked for 18 years in various engineering management positions at AMD and other companies, but with the same group of people – a rarity in the industry, for which I am sometimes called a “survivor.”
During a vacation in the mid-'90s, I was touched by the art and architecture of the churches of Rome. Somehow, they brought the gospel message to life for me. On my return home, I became involved in various ministries at my parish of St. Lawrence, the Martyr. This was followed by studies at the Institute for Lay Leadership in Ministry, which nurtured my desire to serve Christ and the Church. I was accepted in the Deacon/Advanced Lay Leadership formation program in 2001, and ordained permanent deacon in April 2005. My assignment was twofold: chaplain ministry at the Elmwood county jail and liturgical ministry at my parish. At the same time, I completed the graduate program in Pastoral Ministries at Santa Clara University.
My calling to the priesthood took shape progressively. When I first considered the idea, I was not ready to leave my engineering job. But over time, ministry became more important to me as I saw Christ at work in the jail. I developed a sense of solidarity with the disadvantaged in society and a greater concern for social justice. When my company offered me early retirement, I discerned that God was calling me to take a new direction in life. I left my job and applied to St. Patrick’s seminary with the intent of being formed for the priesthood.
It is a privilege for me to train to serve the Lord and my brothers and sisters as a priest. I am attracted and challenged by the fact that a priest represents Christ the shepherd, and is called to be His living image. He is blessed to preside at the celebration of the Eucharist in the midst of his community. I realize that I came to this vocation rather late, but I believe that my life experience will serve me as a priest. I have become familiar with the dynamics and demands of the workplace, and am used to a multi-cultural environment. I understand the experience of immigrants, being one myself. My ministry and training as a deacon have taught me the sacredness and dignity of all human beings since all are made in the image and likeness of God. And I have learned to trust in God – He has shown that, if He wills it, there can be second acts in life.
The notes below are added by S. Thoi.
[1]. Ecole Polytechnique is France's top of the tops engineering schools. Only a small number of students pass the French yearly most difficult and most competitive entrance exam.
[2]. Sup-Telecom is a nick name for Ecole Nationale Superieure des Telecommunications (ENST). Among all French engineering schools in telecommunications, ENST of Paris is simply number 1.
I had the privilege to know Fr. Thierry while he was a seminarian in my parish St. Catherine of Alexandria. Fr. Thierry is such a knowledgeable man, yet so humble and easy to talk to. Fr. Thierry is fully fluent in French, English and Spanish. I had the joy to attend Fr. Thierry's first Mass in Spanish on Sunday May 24th, 2009.
Best wishes to you father and may Our Lord and Our Lady protect you in your ministry,
S. Thoi
Reproduced here with Fr. Thierry's permission.
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