The Santiago Way Podcast is a ministry of Santiago de Compostela Catholic Church in Lake Forest, California. Our podcasts typically begin with Gospel readings, and continue with homilies.

Regular contributors include:

Father Thomas Naval

Father Thomas Paul David Karaniwan Naval (aka: Father Thomas), our Pastor, was born in Manila, Philippines. He was ordained in 1989 at the Shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Quezon City, Philippines. He began his ministry in the Diocese of Orange in 2007 and, prior to his assignment at Santiago, has served as Parochial Vicar of St. Justin Martyr and then St. Irenaeus until May 5, 2014.

Father Martin Vu

Father Martin Vu was born in Garden Grove, California and was a part of the first class to be ordained at the Christ Cathedral on July 27, 2019. He has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, UCI, a Master of Divinity at St. John’s Seminary, Camarillo, and a Master of Arts in Theology at St. John’s Seminary, Camarillo His priestly motto comes from Mary’s words in Luke 1:38 “Let it be done unto me according to your word.” Santiago is his FIRST priestly assignment!

Deacon Dan Diesel

Deacon Dan Diesel has been a member of Santiago de Compostela since it was founded in 1979. Dan and his wife Allison live in Mission Viejo. They have four adult children and one grandchild. He earned a Bachelor Science degree in Business Administration, and Dan is currently the Chief Information Officer and Vice President of Business Strategy for a group of companies headquartered in Lake Forest. Dan was called to the Diaconate in 2010 and was ordained in 2015.

Very Special Guests Include:

The Most Rev. Kevin W. Vann, Bishop of Orange

Bishop Vann was born in Springfield, Illinois. He attended Springfield College, earned a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology from Millikin University, and after working for three years as a medical technologist, he entered the seminary. Then Father Vann served as pastor of parishes ranging in size from 35 to 1,300 families, two of which had large schools. He taught Canon Law at Kenrick Seminary and served as the Diocesan contact for Hispanic Ministry. On September 21, 2012, His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI announced the appointment of Bishop Kevin W. Vann as the fourth Bishop of Orange.