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I was born and raised in Vietnam, but the political and religious circumstances, as the result of the Fall of Saigon in 1979, had forced my family and thousands of Vietnamese to flee the country. Under these circumstances, I escaped Vietnam by boat with thirty-eight other people.
Under normal weather condition, it would take us five to seven days to reach one of those free world countries in Asia such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Singapore. From our place of departure, going by the way of the Philippines was the fastest and safest route. There was a high chance of survival and less chance of encountering merciless pirates.
So toward the direction of the Philippines we headed. Our boat moved slowly, slowly. During the first three days of our journey, the weather was great: clear sky, light breeze, and calm waves. As a fourteen years old, I was amazed at the vastness of the ocean, the endless sky, the mysterious deep water. I was totally excited about the whole adventure: of seeing new things, new places, new people.
On the fourth of the trip, the weather changed completely. The sky turned darker and darker each minute. Rain began to pour down heavier and heavier. The wind blew stronger and stronger. Its hissing sound terrified everyone. The waves grew higher and higher. The crashing sounds of the waves against the boat intensified our fear of death. I could see how much the captain struggled to maneuver the tiny boat in the midst of the giant waves.
As darkness engulfed all over us, our hope of survival diminished and our fear of death intensified. Alone on the vast ocean, we could not turn to anywhere or to anyone for help. There was no island to seek refuge, no commercial ship to rescue us. We knew that we could not survive the fiery weather. The heavy rain, the strong wind, the high waves were too overwhelming for everyone, for the boat. Death is imminent. But in the midst of our fear and sadness, hope once again restored. We saw light!
The experience of escaping Vietnam gave birth to my pursuit of religious life. This experience gives me a deeper meaning of life and a deeper understanding of God's creative power in nature and people. It heart is set on fire whenever I think about the fact that I survived the ordeal of escaping Vietnam and was generously cared for by the men and women in the Philippines!
And here I am, a religious with the Priests of the Sacred Heart (SCJ) since 1994. I professed my first vows in 1997 and perpetual vows in 2003. I will be ordained a deacon in March, 2004 and ordained a priest in September, 2004 in Houston, Texas. I am looking forward to be active in my ordained ministry as a member of the Congregation.
One of the attractions that drew me to the Priests of the Sacred Heart was the sacred heart spirituality. Growing up in Vietnam, we had special devotion to the Sacred Heart. The parish church would have adoration every night. There were organizations dedicated to the Sacred Heart, such as the Sacred Heart Family, which is also very popular among the Vietnamese- American Catholics, etc. The popularity of the Sacred Heart spirituality in Vietnam was the direct result of the works of many dedicated French missionaries.
In summer of 2003, I had an opportunity to get in touch with the French connection. I participated in an international program for SCJ seminarians, who were preparing themselves for their Perpetual Vows with the Congregation, held in La Capelle, France, the birthplace of the founder of the Priests of the Sacred Heart. There at La Capelle and the nearby towns where Fr. Dehon engaged in the ministry of social justice, I stood beside the man whose Christian dreams and visions we, the SCJS, are living out each day. I was emotionally moved and encouraged.
If you feel that God is calling you to participate in Jesus' ministry of preaching, serving, and witnessing to the Reign of God, respond to that invitation with a "Yes." This "Yes" will enable you to live a life fully committed to service to God's people. We, the SCJS, will welcome you and be glad to have you as a pivotal part of our works of building up the Reign of God on earth. So give yourself a chance to discover what it is that God is calling you!
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