FREEPORT — Freeport isn’t known for its diversity, but the Rev. Ron Maquiñana said he’s experiencing a multicultural environment as the new pastor at St. Mary Mother of God Roman Catholic Parish.

“This is my first time to be in the U.S.,” Maquiñana said. “I didn’t know what the culture would be.”

He notices the variety of ethnic backgrounds in the town. The Philippines, his native country, does not have a similar diversity.

Maquiñana is from Daraga on Luzon, the largest island in the Philippines.

He arrived in the Diocese of Greensburg in October 2012 after the diocese made an appeal for priests at a Catholic bishops’ conference in the Philippines. The request reached Maquiñana in the Philippine Diocese of Daet.

He had asked for an assignment outside that diocese but he didn’t expect to leave his country.

“I cannot say no,” Maquiñana said when invited to the U.S. “So I said, ‘Where is Greensburg?’”

He was ordained in 2006, when he was 29. He already had three degrees — a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, a bachelor’s degree in theology and a clinical pastoral education degree.

Once in the United States, he had to adjust to living here.

“It takes time for me to get used to the food and the weather,” Maquiñana said. “I lived in a very tropical country.”

“Driving, especially in winter, is a little bit hard,” said Maquiñana, who had never experienced winter before. He said he was scared the first time he encountered a whiteout.

Maquiñana wasn’t used to potatoes, pasta or pizza at meals. “I was used to rice,” he said.

He prefers typical Filipino meals of rice, fish and vegetables. When he cannot find ingredients such as bitter melon and long string beans, he heads to the Strip District in Pittsburgh.

Maquiñana assisted in all the ministries of the parish at his first U.S. assignment as the parochial vicar at St. Barbara Roman Catholic Church in Harrison City. Next he was the parochial vicar at Mother of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church in Murrysville.

Maquiñana came to St. Mary Mother of God July 1 to serve the 189-year-old parish.

“I didn’t expect it at all to get here,” Maquiñana said. “I did not expect it would already be time to be pastor.”

Beth Macurdy of Sarver has attended St. Mary her entire life. She said Maquiñana’s youth is a strength.

“He brings new ideas, new ways of trying to get younger people involved,” Macurdy said.

“I’m just getting familiar with the community and the parishioners,” Maquiñana said. “This parish has young families.”

Maquiñana said St. Mary is old but growing. About 600 people attend its three weekend Masses.

Melissa Kristine of Sarver said Maquiñana comes from a family of six.

“His family experience gives him a beautiful insight into parents and raising their children. On the flip side, he’s single so that gives him the experience of leading a single life. He has the viewpoint from both sides,” she said.

“I want to be more involved in the life of the parish,” Maquiñana said. “I’m not just confined within the four corners of the church.”

Maquiñana enjoys biking. Kristine said during his first week in town, he started a group of 30 to 40 walkers and bikers that meet weekly on the Butler Freeport Community Trail.

Macurdy said after an hour on the trail they gather for a brief discussion on current events, such as the upcoming Holy Year of Mercy announced by Pope Francis.

Maquiñana said he is reaching out to meet parishioners and find out their needs.

“One of the biggest needs is getting the people that come to church more engaged and involved with activities at the church,” Macurdy said.

Kristine said another need is continuing to work with the children to help them develop their own relationship with God.

Macurdy said, “The fact that he is from the Philippines, he really is a missionary to us. I think that gives us a whole new perspective of the universality of the Catholic Church. That can be a strength to bring us closer to Christ. Different is sometimes better.”

“I think it’s going really well. I have to admit I was apprehensive at first,” Macurdy said.

“Everyone is quite taken with him as a person. He just has so many amazing gifts,” Kristine said.

Parishioners told Maquiñana his installation Mass last summer was overwhelming. The event included 20 priests, and the church was packed.

“They accepted me. I felt the warm welcome,” Maquiñana said.

“Father Ron is a great fit,” Kristine said. “We’re grateful to have him.”

Next month, about 50 parishioners will get to know him better when they travel with Maquiñana to Rome.

“Most everyone is from Freeport,” Macurdy said. “It’s the first time our church has done a pilgrimage like this.”

She said they will attend a papal audience at St. Peter’s Square. They will experience Mass every day in a different church and visit a couple of cities outside of Rome.