Fr. David Michael de Penha was born in Mandalay, Burma, on November 27, 1974. He joined ‘Nazareth Salesian Seminary’ on May 15, 1987. He studied at Sacred Heart Theological College (Shillong, India, 2000–2005), affiliated with Università Pontificia Salesian, Roma, where he earned his Master’s Degree in Missiology. He was ordained on January 17, 2004.

Fr. David Michael de Penha came to the USA to the Catholic Diocese of Wichita, Kansas, on December 8, 2013, and was incardinated in the Diocese in October 2020. Now he serves as a Pastor at St. John, Iola, Kansas; St. Joseph, Yates Center, Kansas; St. Martin Oratory, Piqua, Kansas; and for the Diocese as a Spiritual Director of Serra Club, Metro, Wichita.

Being a priest from Burma, he also serves as the Spiritual Director of the National Conference of Burmese American Catholics and the Director of Communications for Burmese American Catholics for Peace and Justice.