Father Michael Syjueco (See-HWEH-coe) was ordained for the Diocese of San Jose in 2013.  He has served most recently as parochial vicar at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in San Jose. 

He was born and raised in the Philippines but his father was a native of Fujian Province, China, who moved to the Philippines after the communist takeover of the Chinese mainland in 1949.  Upon arriving in the Philippines, immigration officials gave his father the surname of Syjueco, but the family’s Chinese surname is actually Sy (施).  Father Michael’s early education included the study of Mandarin Chinese.

In addition to his theological degrees, Fr. Michael has a bachelor’s degree in business management.  Prior to entering the seminary, Fr. Michael worked for many years in the corporate world, especially in the areas of human resource development and management training.  He also spent a few years in religious life as a Discalced Carmelite before deciding on a vocation to diocesan priesthood.