Birth Date: June 22, 1954
Where: Centro, Cabatuan, Isabela, Philippines.
When Ordained: March 27, 1981
Where: Centro, Cabatuan, Isabela, Philippines.
When Ordained: March 27, 1981
Ahead of you lies a journey you must travel. The journey has many paths, and the one you choose will decide the course your life will take. It maybe blurred now but they will one day become central to your life.
Father Efren was born on June 22, 1954 in Centro, Cabatuan, Isabela, Philippines. He is one of the six children of the late Hermogenes Tomas, Sr. and Marcelina Altoveros Tomas of Cabatuan, Isabela, Philippines. He attended Cabatuan Pilot Elementary School, La Salette of Santiago High School, St. Louis University, Baguio City, Philippines and Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay City, Philippines. He received the following academic degrees: Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Bachelor of Arts in Theology, and Master in Educational Management.
Father Efren’s date of Religious Profession was May 23, 1978. He was ordained on March 27, 1981 at St. Andrew Parish, Cabatuan, Isabela. He was ordained by the late Bishop Miguel Purugganan, D.D.
Fr. Efren’s first assignment after his ordination was, an Associate Pastor at St. James Parish at Santiago City, 1981 – 1982. From 1982 -1986, he was the Director of La Salette Collegiate Seminary, in Santiago City. In 1986 -1987, he was the Director of Vocations and from 1987 – 1988, he was the Executive Secretary of the Board of Trustees. The following year, 1988 -1994, he was assigned again to St. James Parish in Santiago City the 2nd time. From 1991 – 1994, he was the Provincial Councilor INP Province and from 1994 -2003, he was the Provincial Superior.
In 2004, Father Efren arrived on Maui, Hawaii to be the Pastor of Christ The King Catholic Church in Kahului, Maui until 2012. He calls Christ The King his home because this was his first parish in Hawaii. From November 5, 2012 – June 30, 2023, he was assigned to serve as Pastor at St. Joseph Church in Waipahu, Honolulu, Hawaii.
However, Fr. Efren came back home to Christ The King on July 1, 2023 to present. Besides being assigned as a Pastor, he held other offices between 2005 – 2012: Vicar Forane: Maui, Molokai, Lanai Vicariate, Hawaii, Personnel Board: Diocese of Honolulu, Presbyteral Council: Diocese of Honolulu, and Board of Consultors: Diocese of Honolulu.
Here is Fr. Efren’s advice to young people:
“Ahead of you lies a journey you must travel. The journey has many paths, and the one you choose will decide the course your life will take. It maybe blurred now but they will one day become central to your life. Some take the easy and well-trodden road. Others venture down to the one less traveled by. Whichever road you take, keep in mind that you could make a difference in the world, so long as you be faithful to the Gospel values.
As you walked on this journey, you will be leaving behind footprints that will forever mark your journey. Let those footprints always be footsteps of love.”
written by:
Lucy Peros
Lucy Peros enjoys writing and reading during her spare time. She attends activities at the Kaunoa Senior Center, and active member of the Enhance Fitness Program (Zumba geared for seniors) under the Maui County Department of Aging. She spends time to activities at Christ The King Catholic Church where she serves as a Lector, member of the Women of the Cross Group, and the Grief Support Group. She taught at St. Anthony Grade School and Waihe'e Elementary School where she retired from.