Mr. Shawn Tho Nguyen

Seminarian: Pre-Pastoral Year, Saint Victor Parish

     I was born and raised in Vietnam and I came to the United States in 1992 at age of 15. I have a younger brother and five sisters. Growing up, I had always been curious about the priesthood, but never would have thought that I would enter the seminary to discern my call. Prior to entering Saint Patrick's Seminary, I had an ordinary life: a college degree in Finance and a job. I was about to move on the next stage of life: marriage. But the Lord wants me to do something else for Him; He wants me to enter the Seminary to discern the gift of the priesthood.

     Initially, the idea of becoming a priest came to me while watching a video clip of a man who had converted to Christianity. As I was listening to his testimony, something quite powerful rose up in my heart, and the thought that I should follow Christ to His priesthood came to my mind. From this instant, I knew exactly what I needed to do. A few days later, I started my application for the Diocese of San Jose, and in August 2009, I entered Saint Patrick's Seminary.

     I want to be a priest so that I can fully live my life for others. I want to serve God by serving His people, especially those who are abandoned or neglected by their families and society. Now that I am studying in the seminary, I am more familiar with the tasks that priests perform daily, and I am inspired to do more. I want to share the good News with others and bring people back home to Christ through the Sacraments of the Church, especially through the Sacraments of Eucharist and the Reconciliation. I would also want to further my education in moral theology and possibly write books on morality in English and in my native language, Vietnamese.

     Everyday I thank God for the many blessings He has given me, especially the vocation that brings me here. Thank you for your prayers and please pray for me.