GROWING UP IN ORANGE County, Fr. Damien Giap, O.Praem, remembers spending many Sunday mornings at St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in Cypress with his father, Phan Giap.
“He would take us to Mass and confession, even though we were rather reluctant in going as little children,” said Fr. Damien, who serves as rector of St. John the Baptist Catholic School in Costa Mesa.
FR. DAMIEN GIAP GIVES HIS FATHER COMMUNION DURING HIS 2007 ORDINATION MASS. PHOTO COURTESY OF FR. DAMIEN GIAP
“He was very diligent and at times he had to be firm in making sure that we fulfilled our Sunday obligation and frequented the sacraments, especially confession, in order to be prepared for the Holy Eucharist.”
At the same time, Fr. Damien said his dad didn’t want to push his own faith onto his children too hard. Some weekends were simply too busy to attend Mass. And instead of going to private Catholic schools, Fr. Damien grew up learning in the local public classrooms.
“We were poor, and my parents were pretty focused on work,” he shared when recalling his upbringing. “At the same time, there was enough Catholicity instilled in me to know that when things were difficult, I had the opportunity to journey back to the Father, which is our Lord in church.”
While Fr. Damien said he never abandoned his faith, he developed a whole new appreciation for Catholicism in his early 20s when he was in dental school. While hard at work studying, he thought about joining the seminary at St. Michael’s Abbey in Silverado. The calling is something that initially caught his father by surprise.
“My dad had a little bit of trepidation,” Fr. Damien said. “I think my parents were concerned that if I were to leave dental school and if the seminary didn’t work out, then I would be sort of left in no man’s land.”
While his dad was “slightly concerned,” Fr. Damien answered the call at the age of 25, dropped out of dental school and eventually received his father’s full support.
“The fear and the concerns in the beginning all went away with time,” he said. “That’s a good lesson for all of us to have faith in God.”
Ordained in 2007, Fr. Damien has inspired Catholics with his spiritual advice, nonstop energy and ability to connect with young people. Before working at St. John the Baptist, he impacted the lives of hundreds of students as the former chaplain at JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano.
Through his work and ministry, Fr. Damien has seen the positive impact present and active fathers can have on their kids’ life.
“I think society is trying to muddy or make it really ambiguous as to what the role of the male is,” he shared. “I always think of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.”
While Joseph may rank third when it comes to the hierarchy of holiness, he’s still the head of the Holy Family, according to Fr. Damien.
“I think the idea that St. Joseph is a good model because of the fact that he didn’t need to say a whole lot,” he continued. “No words were recorded of him in Scripture and yet, he led through his fortitude and courage and leading the Holy Family out of Egypt and so forth. I would say that the man’s role is defined in terms of being courageous and a spiritual leader.”
Fr. Damien was honored to preside over his father’s funeral in May of 2015. He also presided over his mother’s funeral Mass in 2022. Before that, Phan was able to witness his son carry out God’s calling by attending several of his Masses.
“He’d be proud of me for being a good shepherd,” Fr. Damien said. “My dad would recognize that decision I made over 27 years ago to join the seminary.” “He would want to tell me now that he’s in eternity. He’s in
the bosom of the Father. Perfect happiness is to come while life on this earth is not going to be ideal at all times. He would say, ‘persevere.’”
Fr. Damien had his own message to other dads who question how much influence they can have on their children’s faith.
Citing scripture, Fr. Damien believes history is full of examples where men become priests, bishops or good missionaries in their communities and made a positive difference.
“Oftentimes, we see the mom take Johnny or Jane to church and the guy’s at home watching football,” he joked. “Dad doesn’t go in and stays in the parking lot. Catholic men should be reminded they’re supposed
to be the spiritual leader in the family. The husband and the wife are both very important. Both vocations are exalted, but it’s different. The role of St. Joseph is very important. It’s worth it to spread the faith.”