Marlon Barao

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Home Parish: St. Ignatius, Spring
Seminary: St. Mary's Seminary

Marlon Barao is the second child of Mario and Flor Barao. He was born in Quezon City Children’s hospital in the Philippines. His family moved to the United States when he was 12  years old. They moved first to Virginia Beach, then to New Orleans, and settled in Lake Jackson Texas for High School and onwards. His faith grew when his mom introduced the rosary; and they prayed as a family. Before this, many things were prioritized before God. It was a gradual spiritual growth whereby the readings at Mass became dynamic and alive; and peace was an evident experience in his parish’s Adoration chapel. When he commuted the one-hour trip to the University of Houston for Theatre Arts studies, he prayed all three (at the time) Mysteries of the Rosary to-and-from home. Upon receiving an undergraduate degree in Theatre Arts he felt a huge desire to serve the Church. At this point, Marlon realized that God is the most important in his life. He served in the National Evangelization Team (N.E.T.) based in St. Paul, MN from 1999-2000. He then went to Denver Colorado for their Archdiocesan spirituality year where he first discerned the priesthood as a seminarian in 2001. He returned to Texas and worked in Youth Ministry while moonlighting at ComedySportz Houston as a professional improv acting troupe member from 2006-2011. He finished studies in Culinary and Pastry Arts from Culinary Institute LeNotre for a stint cooking in Houston before eventually working for the Office of Vocations in the Downtown Chancery under Fr. T.J. Dolce and then Fr. Richard McNeillie. After going on St. Ignatius Loyola’s 30 Day Spiritual Exercises, Marlon made the decision to follow God’s call and is now a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.   

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