Thoughts from a seminarian:
Come and see:
The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus…They said to him, “where are you staying?” He said to them, “come and you will see” (John 1, 37-39).
When I knew my bishop would send me to the United States for the program of priestly formation, a lot of questions came in my mind. I didn’t know how USA is because I had never come to USA before. I had always heard it is a country of civilization, progress, and freedom. However, the most important question that I wonder to know is how is this Church, and how is this Harvest of God there? I remembered the invitation that Jesus said to two disciples, and I wanted to come and see. I did come, and what have I seen?
First, I came to the place that trains the shepherds, the laborers, Kenrick seminary. When I arrived at this seminary, surprise by surprise came to me. It is really a wonderful seminary outside and inside, materially and spiritually. Before I came here, I had always heard about some civilized countries. There are few young people following a Vocation and many seminaries and churches were closed. But when I came and saw Ken-rick Seminary, I was surprised by the number and the faithfulness of seminarians. There are 130 seminarians and they are full of the Holy Spirit. Since I have lived, studied, and played with them, I believe that they are promising candidates for Holy Orders and will become good shepherds, good laborers in the Harvest of God.
Second, after one year living at the seminary, I went to a Harvest, St. Ann parish. And what have I seen here? The more parishes that I have visited, the more surprised I was when I came and saw St. Ann parish. I have seen some parishes were closed, many others don’t have any parishioners come to celebrate daily Mass. However, in St. Ann parish, there are tens of people come to celebrate daily Mass and hundreds at Sunday Mass with faithfulness and joyfulness in God. This is a beautiful Harvest of God.
In short, the things that I have seen since I came here encourage me a lot in the way of following my vocation. I will try to become a good laborer of God, and when I go back to Vietnam, my Harvest, I will remember and talk to my people about the marvels that God has done for his Harvest in the United States, so we always give thanks to the Lord our God…
…Khanh