History :

Today’s Kmhmú Catholic Community of the Diocese of Oakland, California has grown into the Kmhmú Catholic National Center.  It serves more and more Kmhmú and other peoples of Laotian origin ─ Lamet, Mien, Thin, Lahu, Thaidom across the country.  Go to our Contact page to find our leaders from Boston to Santa Ana, California to Oklahoma City and Seattle.

          This very special Catholic ministry began simply when Kan Souriya gathered seven Kmhmú families in the Richmond, California area about 1985.  They began to attend Mass at nearby Catholic Churches, St. John’s in El Cerrito and St. Mark’s in Richmond.  With the help of Fr. George Crespin, then Vicar General, and Sr. Felicia Sarati, Director of ethnic ministries, the Kmhmú Pastoral Center was launched.