In a small and remote village in the Philippines a little boy was born on the 23rd day of October 1967. He was to be the seventh of ten children born to Mr. Patrocenio Tagle Galvan and Mrs. Amada Parreno. He was given the name Germon. He was baptized on April 7th, 1968 in a small mission chapel and confirmed the following year. His family owned and farmed a few hectares of land where they planted rice, grew coconut, banana’s and other tropical fruit. Not far from his home was the ocean shore where he was able to fish. The family home was a nipa hut made of bamboo. It was simple and moveable. Germon started his schooling when he was almost eight and in grade one received an award for being “Most polite” of the class. Germon completed his elementary and high school studies and at the age of 19 entered the Seminary life in Santiago, Isabela. Germon remained there until his decision to apply to join in the Augustinians in Toronto.

He arrived in Canada on Sept 8th, 1990 and was registered in the Masters of Divinity programme at the Toronto School of Theology, University of Toronto. He finished his studies and was awarded a civil degree, Masters of Divinity in 1996. Also, conjoint with the same University, he was granted an ecclesiastical degree in Bachelor of Arts in Scared Theology from St. Paul University. He decided to serve the Church and was accepted into the Novitiate in Racine, Wisconsin and made his profession of vows of poverty, chastity and obedience to the Order of St. Augustine on the 8th of August 1992. He was given a religious name and since then has been using it as “Francis” As an Augustinian Friar; he was ordained to the priesthood on June 8, 1996 at Marylake Monastery, King City. Since then, he has been known as, Fr. Francis. Following his ordination, Fr. Francis was appointed as Associate Pastor of St. Brigid’s Parish on Sept 1996, while at the same time, serving his Augustinian community as Provincial Secretary. In 1998 he studied cannon law at St. Paul University in Ottawa. He was awarded both an ecclesiastical and civil degrees, namely Licentiate in Canon and Masters in Canon Law.

From 2000 to 2004 he was appointed Pastor of St. Brigid’s parish. In 2004 he was sent to Rome for his Doctorate in Canon Law and returned to Toronto in 2006 where he served as the Provincial Superior of the Augustinians in Canada until 2012. In 2013 Fr. Francis went back to Rome to continue his studies. He witnessed the conclave that elected Pope Francis. In 2014 Fr Francis returned from Rome and was sent to Ladner to return to parish life. He was assigned as assistant Pastor of Sacred Heart. On July 4th, 2016 he was appointed as the Defender of the Bond, regional Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Vancouver.

He is now appointed as Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish. Fr. Francis enjoys the outdoors, hiking, cycling, cooking and photography.