Fr. Manuel Barrios

Fr. Manuel Barrios is the son of David and Oliva Barrios. He is the youngest of seven children. Fr. Manuel was born and raised in Oaxaca, Mexico, he moved to the United States in the year 2000, when he was 12 years old. He finished his Junior High in Gilroy, CA; moved on to High School and Gavilan College. Fr. Manuel was involved in the Hispanic young adult ministry at his home parish, St. Mary’s in Gilroy. While working in sales and as a musician, Fr. Manuel felt the call to the priesthood through serving in retreats and in the parish choir. Fr. Manuel attests that it was his parents’ faith and devotion that helped nourish his vocation to the priesthood and love for the Eucharist. He officially joined the diocese by entering a discernment year in 2015-2016 and was assigned at St. Martin’s Parish in Sunnyvale. After his discernment year in a parish he entered St. Patrick’s Seminary where he did his first year of Pre-Theology. Then, he finished the remaining of his formation at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, IL. Fr. Manuel completed his Pastoral Internship at St. John Vianney in 2020. Fr. Manuel writes, “Why would God called me to be priest? I could not understand at first. I am humbled for it is clearer now after one year of witnessing the great things that God can do through me as a deacon. I can only imagine how much more he can do through me as a priest. God gave me so much that he is only asking one thing of me—to give my life for His Church and love her as Christ loved her.”