Hey, wassup yo. All this building a website stuff is fun. Sometimes I get lost in it for hours.

By the grace of God I happened to stumble upon this wetpaint website at the beginning of Lent 2008. Giving up the TV for Lent collided with my boredom and the rest is history. You are all now purveyors of the fruit of this very expected collision.

Please feel free to sign up and help us build this website together by contributing content and suggestions. Just make sure you are respectful and the content you share serves to INSPIRE your brothers and sisters in Christ. If you have any questions, e-mail me at j.trece@hotmail.com.

So about me...was a fool, now a fool for God. Was a loser, now a loser for God. God changes everything! I was ordained a Catholic Priest on June 5, 2004 by Cardinal Mahony. [*See picture for proof that I am a real priest. =)] I spent the first three years of priesthood happily at St. Andrew Church in Pasadena. In March of 2007, I got a very unexpected call from the Vicar for Clergy's Office asking me to consider a new assignment. Beyond my wildest imagination, I was asked to come to the Church where I was ordained to become the Associate Pastor. WHAT A TRIP. God really is crazy. With faith, I followed God where He led me, and here I am.

I currently serve as Associate Pastor at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. I'll tell you anything else you want to know. Just ask.

Q. Why Optimus Prime?
A. I'm more than meets the eye. Holla!! Peace.

Fr. Francis Mendoza aka: Franc, Fran, FM, Kuya, Kuya Francis, Kuya Father, Father Kuya, Paco, Paquito, Paqui, Pac, Pacs, Pancho, Panchito, Frankie, Francisco, Kiko, Francois, Franswayze, Padre, Padrecito, FF, and my new J13 epithet...Choco Bear and its derivatives including Choco, Choc, Choco B, and Brother Bear.
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Home town: Marikina Philippines and West Covina Birthday: 03/13 /1975 Current residence: Downtown LA Occupation: Saving souls, sharing Christ, and proclaiming the Good News. Actually the work I do can be distilled in one word = LOVE.	MORE ABOUT ME... My guilty pleasures: Ok for real....this website is my new obsession. It used to be a pleasure and now its becoming a guilty pleasure. I need to stop cuz I think I'm outta control. I've just replaced my TV obession with my j13.wetpaint.com obsession, bordering on addiction. HELP! The best word to describe me is: REAL. BLESSED. My heroes: Jesus, Mom, Celine, St. Joseph, St. Francis, John Paul II, Lauryn Hill, and MaryGrace Hermano Pingoy. I have mad respect for people who have come to know that LIFE is NOT about happiness, but about LOSING yourself to GAIN yourself. If you are not happy, don't blame anyone else but yourself. I am a firm believer that if you are not happy, ITS YOUR OWN DAMN FAULT! You are blessed beyond your understanding, and if you can't see that, that's just sad. Words or phrases I overuse: Amen, Ya ya ya, For Sure, Yikes, Dude My superpower is: Consecrating eucharist. But let's be honest. I don't do that. Christ does. What else you should know about me: I have one prejudice. I dislike rich people. I have been disrespected by so many people with money throughout my lifetime that I remember [even as early as 9 years old] telling myself, I never wanted to be rich, because RICH = A*****E. If you are rich, you have to prove to me that you are worth my respect. Everyone else I can get along with. If you are wealthy, I automatically dislike you, until such time when you are able to prove to me you are worthy of my time and respect. I am trying to grow in loving all people. And I ask for your prayers that I may be healed from old wounds. I have been blessed being here at the Cathedral of meeting wonderful wealthy Catholics who are just so down to earth and loving. I just need to stay open to growing and learning. "In Process" is what I am, and I pray I never stop growing in His grace.

IN MY DREAMS...

THINGS I PLAN TO DO BEFORE I DIE: 1. Jump out of a plane 2. Learn how to love and respect my Mom in a way that she deserves 3. Dream in espanol 4. Visit Paris 5. Learn how to bake a red velvet cake In the movie version of my life, I would be played by: Edward Norton My childhood ambition/career goal: never to be rich nor an a*****e If I were a breakfast cereal, I would be: oatmeal...hot, nutritious, good for you, easy to digest, and makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. If I could tame and ride any animal, it would be an: EAGLE If I could live anywhere, it would be: somewhere near a beach My dream job: Rockstar My dream vacation: Sleeping in all day

TO-THE-MOMENT ME UPDATED: 11.30.09

Last movie I saw: The Blind Side Last book I read: The Voice Last album I listened to: Battle Studies by John Mayer Last big splurge: A Dinner with Amazing Friends at Morton's Steak House Last vacation: Napa and D.C.

MY ALL-TIME FAVES

Website: I am kinda obsessed with this website for the time being. But some notable mentions go to jmotive.com, and my favorite store probably in the whole world: target.com; For my music fix, I use imeem.com, pandora. com, playlist.com, and good ole' youtube.	Hobbies: Eating and Sleeping; But for real, I love MUSIC. Also: Introspection; All forms of art; Discovering God, truth, beauty, depth, and freedom, in the most unlikely and most unexpected places. I love INSIGHT, especially insight from great music.
Food: Yes, food is my all time favorite!	Gadget: My Ipod Xavier and my Guitar Maya.
Vacation spots: Anywhere God is and great friends are, that's where I want to be. But Hawaii rocks. Lots.	I like my eggs... incubated, hatched, grown, killed, de-feathered, cut, soaked in batter, pressure fried in peanut oil, and made into a delicious Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich, no pickles with fries, coleslaw, and a large lemonade please.
Games: Internet Checkers, Minesweeper, Tetris, Old School Super Mario Bros., Patintero, Sardines (opposite of Hide and Seek), the Price is Right and Family Feud. I used to like mind games...a lot. And then I grew up.	Sports: If sleeping was a sport, I would win a GOLD MEDAL for sure.
World leader: I place my trust in no world leader. I firmly believe that only Jesus Christ can bring true peace to this world.	TV shows: Arrested Development (cancelled), Heroes, and Lost. I am an avid fan of the FOOD NETWORK
Celebrities: Jesus Christ, and Pope John Paul II	Charities/Causes: Gawad Kalinga (GK)
Movies: Shawshank Redemption, Jurassic Park, The Incredibles, Forrest Gump, the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and the Professional. Oddly, although I really hate Chick flicks, I thoroughly enjoyed My Best Friend's Wedding and Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley. My favorite priest movie is Keeping the Faith.	Musicians: Lauryn Hill, Blackstar, Common, BBD, New Edition, Iron and Wine, Arctic Monkeys, Mat Kearney, Switchfoot, Relient K, Schuyler Fisk, The Killers, Shakira, Jesse Y Joy, Enanitos Verdes, Boyz II Men, John Mayer, Coldplay, Lifehouse, Teitur, Gnarls Barkley, Ray Lamontagne, Nelly Furtado, ummm....I really could go on and on, but how about I just say that I love music.
Songs: The whole "Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" Album, Poison by BBD, Can You Stand the Rain by New Edition, Valerie by Amy Winehouse, Crazy by Gnarls Barkley as well as the Ray Lamontagne Version, and Old School Boyz II Men	Desserts: Pizookie at BJ's and Sydney's Sinful Sundae at Outback Steakhouse, Chocolate Cake at Carls Jr, Caramel Pecanbon at Cinnabon, Red Velvet Cupcakes, the Bread Pudding at Pete's, ummm....I really could go on and on, but how about I just say that I love desserts. Ya..I sorta have a sweet tooth.
Quote: "It was a BEAUTIFUL LETDOWN when I crashed and burned, when I found myself ALONE, UNKNOWN, and HURT...It was a BEAUTIFUL LETDOWN the day I knew when all the riches this world had to offer me would never do...In a world full of bitter pain and bitter doubt, I was trying so hard to FIT IN... FIT IN, until I found out...I DONT' BELONG HERE!" - Switchfoot	Cartoons: Ducktales, Gargoyles, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, Gummi Bears, X-Men the Animated Series, Smurfs, Transformers, Robotech, and Princess Mononoke (which although is a cartoon...probably does not fall into that category. This movie is WAAAAY DEEP).

MY LISTS

HOT	NOT
LAVA	ICE
HOT CHEETOS	BEN & JERRY'S ICE CREAM
HELL	HEAVEN
SHOWING UP TO A WHITE PARTY DRESSED ALL IN WHITE	SHOWING UP TO A WHITE PARTY WITH REGULAR CLOTHES -- LAME!!!
CATHOLICS ON FIRE	LUKEWARM CATHOLICS

MULTIMEDIA ME

DEFINING SHOTS	FAVORITE VIDEOS / WIDGETS
Faith is believing that something big and great is at work even though all you can see is darkness and confusion.	The story of my life... ...and apparently yours as well. This inspires me to no end and reminds me constantly of THE COST that was paid that enables me to live as a child of God.
When there's nowhere else to run Is there room for one more son One more son If you can hold on If you can hold on, hold on I wanna stand up, I wanna let go You know, you know - no you don't, you don't I wanna shine on in the hearts of men I wanna mean it from the back of my broken hand Another head aches, another heart breaks I am so much older than I can take And my affection, well it comes and goes I need direction to perfection, no no no no Help me out... Yeah, you know you got to help me out Yeah, oh don't you put me on the back burner You know you got to help me out!	And I won't back down I won't turn around and around And I won't back down Doesn't matter what comes crashing down I'm still gonna stand my solid ground You found me once and for all I laid it down in the sinking ground The hopeless undertow Singing out the gentle sound Rattling through my smoking screens My broken dreams last night Hallelujah ripped through my veins I heard the hammer drop My blood in the rain Hallelujah came like a train When all is lost, all is left to gain Hallelujah

JUST WANTED TO SHARE:
My great friend and hero MG Hermano Pingoy made this collage for me for my 33rd Birthday. I post it up here because it is a great history of my hairstyles throughout the years. Enjoy...


SOME FINAL WORDS ABOUT ME:

YOU THINK YOU KNOW...BUT YOU HAVE NO IDEA! People think that they know me or get me, and because I am a priest, random people (even strangers) feel free to make comments about me like they know who I am or what I am really about. They tell me I should cut my hair or grow it long, or act this way or that way. I should celebrate mass this way or that way. This pisses me off. But in humility, I try my best to sit and listen, and maybe even possibly learn from what people have to say. But in my head and in my heart, there are so many complicated things swirling around. I am a mystery even unto myself. Sometimes I get me and sometimes I don't. At times, I am my own worst enemy and on a bad day I am ready to throw it all away. But on a good day, I am able to accept in God's perfect love that my story (albeit a mystery) continues to unfold through His grace. I am blessed to be a child of God. And this reality is what I strive to hold onto as my fundamental identity. I can guarantee you that you've never met a priest like me ever.

SAY HELLO!
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