CLERGY

The Reverend David Ota, Rector

I was born in San Francisco, California and have been a life-long Episcopalian. I graduated from U.C. Davis with a degree in Biological Sciences, and earned my Masters of Divinity in 1983 from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley. I served as Episcopal Chaplain at the University of Hawaii, Manoa and as Rector of Good Samaritan Church, Honolulu before coming to St. Ambrose in 1997. I am married to the Reverend Karen Swanson. Our adult son, Paul, lives on the island of Oahu after having
graduated from Chaminade University.

The Reverend Jay Watan, Youth Minister

As a priest, what I love about ministry in the Episcopal Church is the invitation to live fully into the love of Jesus Christ and transform faith into action.  I believe with God anything is possible and our faith allows us to be present in the most tender spots of the world.  My role as Youth Minister and School Chaplain is about building relationships that honors our stories, connecting the head and heart, making sacred moments, planting the seeds of faith, and inspiring us to be who God created us to be.

Born and raised in San Francisco, I come from a Filipino American family of Igorot heritage.  I graduated from San Francisco State University in 1996, and completed seminary at Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley in 2007.  My professional background is in substance abuse treatment and law enforcement.  I was ordained in 2006, and I also serve as a Chaplain in the United States Army Reserve.  

Having a large family with many good friends has always been a blessing to me.  I live in the Outer Mission District of San Francisco with my wife, Lil, and children – Rowan and Kieran.   I enjoy photography, food adventures, beaches, church architecture, bowling, archery and target sports, martial arts, road trips, 49ers Football and San Francisco Giants Baseball. God is Good!