Rev. Rufino Jose O. Gepiga was born on July 28, 1970 in Quezon City, Philippines. He grew up in his home town of Camalig, Albay, Philippines and attended both his primary and secondary education at St. Agnes Academy, Legazpi City.
Father Ruffy, as his friends call him, attended Christ the King Mission Seminary (AB Philosophy) and St. Vincent School of Theology (MA Theology/Pastoral Ministry) both in Quezon City, Metro Manila Philippines. After finishing his seminary training in 1997 he subsequently attended Paul VI Institute of Liturgy, Malaybalay, Bukidnon. Fr Ruffy, was ordained a priest on September 14, 1999 by the Most Rev. Jesus Y. Varela at the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul, Sorsogon City.
He came to the US in 2005 after serving his diocese to be with family. Fr Rufino has served in various capacities in his home diocese. He was parochial vicar and CEO/General Manager of the local Catholic Media Network. He came to the US and served in Florida, Hawaii and now in San Francisco. He was consequently given permission to be assigned in the Archdiocese of San Francisco in view of incardination.
In 2017, Fr. Rufino finished his course on Clinical Pastoral Education (Chaplain Professional Course) at the University of California, Parnassus. He was assigned as part-time Parochial Vicar at Star of the Sea, in the city while he took his course. Fr. Rufino’s last assignment was at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church in San Mateo as Parochial Vicar and part time Catholic Chaplain at San Mateo County Hospital.
Fr. Ruff comes from a small family: father Nat Gepiga (deceased) and mother Elisa Ortega Gepiga (relocated in the Philippines) and younger sibling Rachel Marie Gepiga (Baltimore, MD).