Formation Stage

Discipleship Stage IV

Home Parish

St. Edward the Confessor, Dana Point

Seminary

St. John’s Seminary

Favorite Saint(s)

St. Paul, St. John Paul II, St. Ignatius of Loyola

Favorite Marian Apparition(s)

Our Lady of La Vang, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady Queen of Peace

Favorite Book or Movie

The Autobiography of St. Ignatius of Loyola

Favorite Hobby

Listening to music.

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 began to discern my vocation in response to an invitation from God to reflect upon what I truly desire in this life and the next. I found myself in love with God with a desire to discern and follow his will. I slowly felt God turning my gaze away from success in my career in marketing and towards serving his people in the Priesthood.

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

Msgr. Tuan Pham influenced my decision to enter the seminary because through his witness to a compassionate priestly heart, he helped me envision the priest that I believe God is calling me to be. Ever since I was a young boy, his priesthood has made a strong impression on me that influenced my discernment as a young adult. Fr. Philip Smith who was my pastor at St. Edward the Confessor Parish, through his powerful and deeply pastoral homilies, nourished my spirit as a young adult looking to more seriously dive into the faith and learn more about his vocation.

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

When I reflected upon the example of a few priests in my life and I felt as though I wanted to be like them, to serve God like them, one day; that following their example would bring me so much more joy than living the life I previously envisioned for myself.