Putting On The New Man: Jose Alberto Melgoza Verduzco and Vu Mark Nguyen Profiles of New NDS Seminarians


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.

 

JOSE ALBERTO MELGOZA VERDUZCO

My name is Jose Alberto Melgoza Verduzco. I was born in Mexico City in 1985. I am from the Diocese of
Memphis. I began my formation in 2009 in the minor seminary of Santa Maria de Guadalupe in Morelia,
Mexico. My family is my father Jose Alberto, my mother Josefina and my brother Carlos
Alberto. I have been in priestly formation for ten years. The saints to whom I have great devotion are to
St. Joseph and The Blessed Virgin of Guadalupe. My devotion to St. Joseph is because this great saint is
the patron of my community. I have learned from this great saint to be obedient to the will of God.
Moreover, my devotion to the Blessed Virgin of Guadalupe because I grew up with this love for her as a
tender, loving and protective mother who always takes care of me. One of my favorite movies is Coco
because this movie talks about my culture, especially the celebration of the day of the dead. In this
movie death is not seen as a destruction but of full life. This movie also teaches us that it is always
important to remember the souls of our relatives, friends and acquaintances and pray for them. Inviting
us not to forget our great moments that we have lived with our relatives who have gone to the presence
of God. My favorite Scripture verse is Matthew 16: 26 “For what will it profit them if they gain the whole
world but forfeit their life?” I always keep this verse in my mind and I put it into practice in my life
because it teaches me that through the value of my human life, I can make the process for divine life, for
salvation. It is clear that what the world offers us will not compare with eternal life, and this is what I
would like to convey to my family and to each of the people that God places in my life. This is what God
proposes to my life and to the life of all those who want to follow it. I want to be a priest because I want
to give and put my mind, my heart and my soul in the plan of salvation that God has for me and all
mankind. I also want to be a priest to live happy, to be happy, to perform in the service because it is
through the service that the human being reaches its fullness. One of my favorite books is the
Confessions of St. Augustine. One of the great teachings I learned is that man will find his full happiness
only when he meets his Creator, which is his origin and destiny. The most wonderful thing that has
happened to me is that I have met the wonderful human being that God has created for me. In which
God has expressed all his love and all his mercy. My vocation is hope, faith and charity. It is also
perseverance, total surrender and sacrifice for the love of God. In my free time I like to play soccer,
basketball, I like to swim and also to walk outdoors. I also like to listen to music in English and classical
music.

 

VU MARK NGUYEN

My name is Vu Nguyen, and I’m entering First Theology and studying for the Diocese of Dallas. My patron saints include the Curé of Ars for his love of his parish and St. Josemaría for his love of Our Lady and interior struggle. I enjoyed reading The Cure of Ars and The Way for the same reasons. My favorite Scripture verse is Luke 23:42, when the repentant thief merely asks Jesus to remember him and is met with great mercy. An interesting experience of mine was moving to NYC to start a new marketing job, and then living without power for a week when Hurricane Sandy flooded my neighborhood. My favorite movies include We Were Soldiers, A Beautiful Mind, and Inception. I play squash and the violin, did Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and I like aviation. I entered seminary because I believe a priest who is in love with Our Lord and his mother can be a sacrificial instrument to save souls and to help them live joyful lives.

 


About the Author: Jason Songe, Seminarian, Archdiocese of New Orleans


Jason is a seminarian in First Theology.


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