Fr. Raphael Ma, C.R. Installed as Pastor of St. Mary’s Parish
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On Saturday, August 29, Fr. Raphael Ma, C.R. was formally installed as Pastor of St. Mary Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows Parish in Kitchener by Most Rev. Joseph Dabrowski, C.S.M.A., Bishop of Hamilton.
For members of Kitchener Knights of Columbus, Fr. Raph is already a familiar face. As our Council Chaplain, he has become an important part of the spiritual life of our Council. His installation as Pastor of one of Kitchener’s historic Catholic parishes provides an opportunity to learn more about the journey that brought him to St. Mary’s.
A Journey of Faith and Discernment
Fr. Raphael was born in Toronto, the only child of Chinese immigrants from Hong Kong, and grew up in Markham, Ontario.
His path to the priesthood was not one he had necessarily envisioned. While attending the University of Guelph, Fr. Raph experienced a personal conversion during his first year that led him to explore his Catholic faith more deeply.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, he entered formation as a seminarian for the Diocese of Hamilton. After approximately three and a half years, his journey led him in another direction. He came to believe that God was calling him not only to the priesthood, but also to religious life. That calling led him to the Congregation of the Resurrection, commonly known as the Resurrectionists, or C.R.
Fr. Raph professed his first vows as a Resurrectionist in August 2015 and made his perpetual profession in November 2018. He studied at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, earning a Master of Divinity and a Master’s in Theology, specializing in Systematics. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 15, 2019.
Helping Others Discover Their Calling
Vocation ministry has become an important part of Fr. Raph’s priestly ministry. In 2021, he was assigned to vocation ministry for the Congregation of the Resurrection. He has also served in communications, worked with the Apostles of the Resurrection and participated in the Resurrectionists’ collaborative Vocation Team, accompanying young people discerning priesthood and religious life.
His approach to his spiritual journey reflects his own experience. Fr. Raph has emphasized that discovering one’s vocation is not simply an intellectual exercise. Prayer and reflection are essential, but so is taking concrete steps and gaining the experiences that help reveal where God may be leading.
His vocation ministry has also taken him beyond Kitchener. In late 2025, Fr. Raph travelled to Tanzania to learn about the Resurrectionists’ formation and vocation work there, spending time with seminarians and visiting parish communities.
Coming to St. Mary’s
Fr. Raph moved to St. Mary’s Rectory in January 2024 while continuing his vocation ministry. He subsequently became Associate Pastor, serving alongside the Resurrectionist community in downtown Kitchener.
In 2026, Bishop Dabrowski appointed Fr. Raph to succeed Fr. Toby Collins, C.R. as Pastor of St. Mary’s, effective June 24. His formal installation by Bishop Dabrowski on August 29 marked both a new chapter for Fr. Raph and the continuation of the longstanding relationship between St. Mary’s Parish and the Congregation of the Resurrection.
Beyond Parish Ministry
Those who know Fr. Raph also know there is another side to him. He enjoys cooking for friends, practicing Muay Thai and, by his own description, learning “random facts.”
Council members may also remember his annual walking pilgrimage from Kitchener to the Martyrs’ Shrine in Midland, a journey previously featured in The Echo. It is another example of his commitment to putting faith into action through prayer and perseverance.
Fr. Raph joined our Council executive as Chaplain in 2023 and has since become a valued spiritual presence within the Kitchener Knights of Columbus. We are fortunate to have the Pastor of St. Mary’s continuing to serve our members in this important role.
Council 1504 congratulates our Chaplain, Fr. Raph, on his installation and offers our prayers and continued support. May God bless him, guide his ministry and strengthen him as he serves St. Mary’s and the broader Catholic community of Kitchener.
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