Thiet Hoang-Configuration 3

Introduction/Tell things about you, your family, your Catholic journey

My name is Thiet Hoang, and I was born and raised in a Catholic family in Ha Tinh, Vietnam. I am the fourth of six children in my family. When I was thirteen years old, I moved to Quang Binh province to live in a rectory with Father Huong Hoang, my uncle, who was the pastor at Kim Lu parish. In Vietnam, it is common for kids to live in the rectory to help the priests and see what they do. I graduated from Tuyen Hoa high school and went to Da Nang University of Science and Technology to study information and technology engineering. After graduating, I worked for a software company. After working and discerning for a while, I came to the US in August of 2018. Now I am a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Dubuque, and I hope to be ordained and serve the people of God in the U.S.

Growing up in a Catholic tradition, my family used to go to church twice every day for morning Mass and evening prayer. My Catholic faith was formed by the direction of my parents; it was cultivated and consolidated by learning the catechism and serving as an altar server for Masses. During the time I was at Da Nang for college, I got involved with the Hoa Khanh Catholic Student Group and joined their choir. 

Where/when did your sense of call develop?
When I was 11 years old, my uncle got ordained and became a priest. That was my first time attending an Ordination Mass. The Mass was so beautiful and the image of the priest was stuck in my mind. From that time, I started having the idea that I would become a priest in the future. When I turned 13 years old, my uncle asked me to live in the rectory with him to help him with activities and projects in the church. This was the most blessed time in my life when I had a great chance to discern my future calling. I continued to learn and think about my future in the priesthood.

Were you invited by others to enter seminary?
The idea of priesthood first came to me from my first time attending that Ordination Mass. However, I would also say my uncle and my parents would be the encouragement for me to step in and grow up in the want of becoming a priest. They kind of cultivated and supported the seeds of my vocation like a gardener. Also, during my time living in the rectory, I had a chance to see and understand my discernment. Eventually, I decided by myself to attend the seminary.

What was your main motivation in pursuing your call?
My main motivation for my call is the happiness of loving God and learning to know and serve God from others. I think priesthood is the best chance for me to be with God and with others. 

What advice would you give other men who are discerning their call?
It is hard to hear the call when we have too many things to worry about in our lives. My suggestion is to spend more time in silence to listen to God by attending Adoration and going on retreats when possible. If someone has the idea about priesthood, go ahead and bravely talk to priests or people who are in the field of vocational discernment. Sometimes the answer is not really clear, and you must go out and answer that question!