Age: 29
Home Parish: Church of the Annunciation, Ilion
Seminary / Stage of Study: St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, MD, Fourth Theology
Degree(s): SUNY Potsdam, BA in Music
Work Experience: Organist and Director of Music at two Parishes
Interests: Computers, cooking, music, travel
Vocation Story: The idea of becoming a priest has been on my mind since I was ten years old. When I was a young child, I always went to daily Mass with my Dad. I told him that I liked to go to church to pray. When my sister and I went to Mass, we sat near the front pews where I was able to observe what was happening during the Mass. I was moved by the hymns and the participation of the congregation. During the consecration of the Eucharist, I felt that there was something drawing me closer to the altar. At Christmas in 1987, as I was preparing to receive my First Communion, I learned about the Catholic faith, Jesus ministry, and what a vocation to priesthood meant. I remembered telling my Dad about my interest in becoming a priest. My Dad smiled at me and told me to put it into Gods hands. In November of 1989, my family and I left our home in Vietnam for the Philippines where we stayed at a refugee camp for six months to learn about the English language and culture. During this time, I joined a local youth group which called the Eucharist Youth. Here I had fun playing and learning more about my faith with other children. I learned how to put my life and my trust into Gods hands. Although I was sad to leave my homeland, I knew that God would take care of my family and me. All I could do was to put my trust in God. As a family, we arrived in New York State in June 1990. I grew up in the Utica area and attended the local schools. If it is Gods will, I hope to be ordained as a priest and to serve His people in the diocese of Albany.
