From refugee to Bishop: Michael Pham’s remarkable story of migration, vocation and advocacy

How can leaders in the church accompany migrants and refugees? Fr. James Martin, S.J., speaks with Bishop Michael Pham about how his background as a refugee has led him to accompany migrants today. Bishop Pham fled Vietnam in 1980 with his older sister and a younger brother, arriving first at a refugee camp in Malaysia, before being sponsored a year later by an American family and relocating to Minnesota. He graduated from San Diego State University with a bachelor’s and started a master’s degree in aerospace engineering before shifting his course and pursuing the priesthood. Pope Francis appointed him as auxiliary bishop of San Diego in 2023. In 2025, Pope Leo XIV named him the seventh bishop of San Diego, making him the nation’s first Vietnamese-American diocesan bishop. Since then he has been a leader among U.S. bishops in advocating for migrants and refugees. Together, Bishop Pham and Fr. Martin discuss: His childhood in Vietnam and escaping conflict as a refugee How Bishop Pham supports migrants today How prayers and sacraments can sustain us while helping vulnerable communities Chapters: 0:00 A church that walks with migrants 4:24 Bishop Pham’s story of fleeing Vietnam as a child 17:19 Separated from his family at a refugee camp 18:19 Prayer strengthened his family’s faith in hardship 22:55 Discerning the priesthood 31:18 Bishop Pham’s work with migrants today 39:39 The church’s response to migration centers on human dignity 42:00 Remember to celebrate the small blessings 45:30 Audience Question: How can prayer and sacraments sustain me through the work of helping vulnerable communities? Read Maggi’s spiritual reflection here Links from the show: Why San Diego’s Catholic leaders are standing with migrants in court—against impossible odds Pope Leo XIV, in first U.S. appointment, names San Diego’s new bishop U.S. Catholics are facing an authoritarian threat. The church has been here before. The U.S. bishops have made a (needed) statement on deportations. Now it’s time to act. Support The Spiritual Life by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: [email protected] Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices