Formation Stage

Discipleship Stage II

Home Parish

St. Columban, Garden Grove

Seminary

Mount Angel Seminary

Favorite Saint(s)

St. Lawerence, St. Dominic, St. John Vianney, St. Thomas the Apostle, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Augustine, The Vietnamese Martyrs, Ven. Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan

Favorite Marian Apparition(s)

Our Lady of La Vang

Favorite Book or Movie

“The Road of Hope: A Gospel from Prison” “Five Loaves and Two Fishes” “Rush Hour 1,2,&3” “Kung Fu Hustle” “Shaolin Soccer”

Favorite Hobby

Reading, cooking, and I’m trying to get into book binding.

Background

What are some of the factors that led to your decision to enter the seminary and discern the question of a vocation to the priesthood?

THE SACRAMENTS! There is nothing more powerful than the Eucharist or the beauty of helping someone reconcile with Christ in Confession, or seeing the comfort of consolation of someone receiving Anointing of the Sick. I remember spending lots of time in an Adoration Chapel and just falling in love with the Eucharist and growing in admiration for the traditions and beauty of the faith. There was a moment in Mass during the elevation, and I felt this tugging in my heart. This prompted me to really start thinking about my vocation and discerning the possibility of the priesthood.

Who are some of the people who influenced your decision to enter the seminary? What is it about them that assisted you?

I think it has definitely been the many priests and seminarians I’ve encountered throughout my life. There is a lot I can say about each of them individually, but the common thing they all have is a zeal and love for God and the people of God. I think seeing the their joy in their vocation is what really made me think deeper about the priesthood as a vocation that God is calling me to.

Describe the moment that you knew you wanted to take the next steps to become a priest?

I knew that I wanted to take the next step when I randomly told a priest that I think I wanted to be a priest. I remember being very nervous and barely being able to get the words out. I was afraid to say it out loud because I was not sure. I remember just asking “How do I really know if this is my calling? How do I know if Jesus is really calling me to the priesthood?” And something he said stuck out to me. “We always think that we’ll get some big sign, but in reality we don’t know what that sign really is. It’s about being present and being aware to God’s workings in your life. Any moment could be ‘the’ sign. How do you not know that this moment is not the sign?” And that final question just sent me! I don’t know. But why was it that I was so randomly moved to tell this visiting priest? I then sent a message to the Vocation’s Instagram, then got to talking to Fr. Brandon. Next thing I know, I’m in Oregon with 25 other guys trying to discern God’s calling in their life.