By: Jason Songe, Seminarian, Archdiocese of New Orleans
Putting On The New Man is a series of the NDS Blog that will introduce the new faces you see in the seminary.
AARON GRIFFITH
My name is Aaron Griffith. I am a seminarian for the diocese of Beaumont and will be in Theology I. I find that St. Ignatius of Loyola is a powerful role model for myself. Over the years I found his method of prayer to be highly beneficial for myself, especially his reflections on obedience. In conjunction with Ignatius’s example, I have found Proverbs 8:22-31 to give an excellent view of childlike joy in being obedient to the Heavenly Father. My desire to be a priest of Jesus Christ is strongly rooted in my desire to celebrate the Mass. My two favorite spiritual works are The Power of Silence by Cardinal Sarah and Theology of Prayer by Joseph Clifford Fenton. My favorite movie would likely be Monty Python and the Holy Grail. My favorite hobby would be hiking. I really enjoy experiencing God through nature’s beauty. If I could describe my vocation story in a few words I would say, “Adoration brought me to Christ.” The most interesting thing that happened to me might be that I have broken my arm three times and almost died from blood loss when I was 6. You can ask me about it if you want.
HOANG NGOC PHAM
I am Hoang Ngoc Pham. I am from the Archdiocese of New Orleans. I will be in Pre Theology-1. My favorite saint is St. Alphonsus Mary de Ligouri because he is my baptismal saint. I like to watch the movie “Quo Vadis?” My favorite quote of Scripture is “Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.”(Mt 21:22). My faith is based on the Bible. I always take my time to read the Bible and do Lectio Divina. I want to be a priest because I want to live closer to God and bring God to others. The spiritual books I like to read are The Road of Hope by Cardinal Francis Nguyen Van Thuan and Story of a Soul by Saint Theresa of Lisieux. The first lesson I learned in the seminary is not from Philosophy or Theology class but swimming lessons. The Emeritus Archbishop Hughes is training me well. I can swim up and downstream now either in the pool or in the class. I like to listen to music in the morning. My vocation story can be described in those words: “His love endures forever.”(1 Chronicles 16: 34)
AN TUYEN NGO
My name is An Tuyen Ngo (Joseph). I was born on Feb 20, 1988, at Ta Mon village which belongs to Binh Thuan province, Vietnam. I departed for the US in 2018 and arrived in Holy Apostles College and Seminary. It is my first year at Nashville Diocese right now. Sanctification is the purpose of the Christian in general. Besides Blessed Mother and St. Joseph, my patron saint, St. Theresa, the little of Jesus is my favorite saint. I like the passage in the Gospel of St. Luke: the Magnificat–The Mary’s song of praise (Lk 1:46–55). The Magnificat is a prayer of thanksgiving to the mercy of God. I want my life to be a thankful song to God for all grace that He has given me. The Magnificat has a special meaning for me in following Jesus as His disciple. I used to be on the top of the world when I convinced one person to be baptized. It was considered as one of my interesting things in my life. It can be said that my vocation comes from observing and listening. In fact, having witnessed the generosity and dedication of the religious men, women, and priests in my life, I felt motivated to follow their examples. When I had the opportunity to serve people, especially the poor and the needy, I felt the satisfaction and more motivation to be a witness of Christ in this world. Yet a witness of Christ is not just doing good things for others. I want to bring God’s salvation to people, especially through the Sacraments, such as Eucharist, Anointing, Confession, and Baptism. So, I think with the zeal for the salvation of others, I feel God is calling me to be a priest so that I can bring God to others and be Christ-like among His flock. I always desire that my spiritual life and prayers help me be closer to God. I feel peaceful during the times that I have with the Lord. This sign of peace and happiness is deep in the bottom of my heart which has inspired and motivated me to pursue my vocation journey to the priesthood until now. I always give thanks to God for the many graces that He has blessed me. After much praying, I decided to listen to my heart and let God lead me. With the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, I realized that joining a seminary is the best way for me to fulfill my dream. I enjoy tending plants and creating mini landscapes. I have special interests in taking natural pictures. Some of my favorite leisure activities include watching some favorite movies such as The Lord of The Rings, Harry Porter, Avengers (Infinity War), playing some kind of sport like tennis, badminton, and walking. Reading is also counted to my hobby. My favorite book is are “Đường Hy Vọng”(The Way of Hope). All these things help me feel comfortable and enjoyable.
About the Author: Jason Songe, Seminarian, Archdiocese of New Orleans
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