Jayden Le

Formation Stage

Propaedeutic Year

Home Parish

St. Cecilia, Tustin

Seminary

Mount Angel Seminary

Favorite Saint(s)

St. Peter, Pope St. John Paul II, St. Cecilia, Blessed Fulton J. Sheen, & Ven. Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan

Favorite Marian Apparition(s)

Our Lady of La Vang and Fatima

Favorite Book or Movie

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

Favorite Hobby

Building LEGOs, Fishing, Pickleball, & Rooting for the Lakers

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?

I first heard the call to priesthood when I was six years old. However, I didn’t take it seriously because I also wanted to be a marine biologist and police officer. After my reversion back to the faith in my freshman year of high school, I started to cultivate a lifestyle with more meaningful relationships, prayer, and service under the guidance of Fr. Bao Thai. I became more involved in parish life and spending time with our parish priests made me reconsider the possibility of priesthood. How they interacted with our parishioners, offered the Sacraments, and lived their vocation was instrumental in my discernment. This together with a growing devotion to the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Eucharistic Adoration sparked a growing fire within me.

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

I am particularly grateful for the guidance and prayers of my priestly mentors: Fr. Bao Thai, Fr. Michael Nguyen, Fr. Martin Vu, and Fr. Michael Khong. Each of these men have demonstrated a radiant love for God’s people and unrelenting zeal for the Gospel. Their examples as phenomenal priests and generous support for me has been instrumental in my vocational journey. Furthermore, I am also thankful for the encouragement of my parents, relatives, friends, parishioners, brother seminarians, clergy, and other incredible individuals that have made this journey possible.

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

As my senior year at CSULB approached, I realized that I need to respond to the growing attraction toward priesthood in this crucial time of my life. After much heartfelt prayer, I knew it was time to take concrete steps in my discernment. It was a challenging, yet exciting process, culminating in an evening conversation with my parents, where I shared my intent to apply to the seminary. At the end of our conversation, my mom concluded with a line will be etched in my heart forever: “God has been so good to us and given us so many blessings. Can we not give one chance in this blessed opportunity?” Her words echoed with a theme of hope and unwavering support present in our conversation that sealed my decision to take a leap of faith and apply as a seminarian for the Diocese of Orange.