MEET YOUR SEMINARIANS
A ‘ Culture of Love ’
Phuc ( Tommy ) Ngo Theology III
Archdiocese of Detroit
I would never imagine asking God a simple question would change my life , but for the last five years it has . During my discernment weekend a little more than five years ago , I was honest with the Lord . I told him that I do not like to pray and that he should help me in this area if he wants me to be a priest . All of a sudden , I felt something in my heart , and I have been following it ever since .
Initially , I kept praying because it felt good , but I slowly realized that what I felt was his love for me . From that point on , I no longer felt depressed because I knew the purpose of life — for Jesus loves me and is with me every moment of my life . I finally found what I have been looking for , even though I never knew that I was looking for it . My life since that point , along with the seminary ’ s formation , has been a great journey to explore this miraculous love .
My journey here at Sacred Heart has been one of learning to trust in the Lord . Literally everything I have to do as a seminarian is either something that I am not good at or something that I do not like to do . For instance , I am not good at public speaking , reading philosophical texts , or writing papers . Back in college , I purposely chose to study biochemistry so that I could avoid writing a lot . However , the Lord has shown me that he does not need someone who is qualified for the job but someone who is willing to be formed . This daily trust in his power has not been disappointing . He has helped me in every step , and being able to see that has been a great blessing because I realize I am not alone . Jesus is really alive , and he is really with us just like he promised , “ And behold , I am with you always , to the end of the age .” ( Mt 28:20 )
What I have experienced in the seminary is a culture of love . I have always been astonished by the way people here live and treat each other . I am in a racial minority group , but I have never felt like an outcast at Sacred Heart Major Seminary . It is different from being treated nicely . It is a love that can only come from Jesus , from the belief that each person is a son or daughter of God . Sacred Heart is a representation of a good Christian community , one that represents our heavenly kingdom . The priests , seminarians , and staff here try to live their best to build up this kingdom out of love for Jesus . For instance , we help each other in carrying one another ’ s burdens . We forebear each other ’ s weaknesses . We share our knowledge freely with a desire to help each other to grow , and we share each other ’ s joy . It is a sharing that can only be rooted in God ’ s infinite love and his inexpressible generosity . Living here and seeing the culture of this seminary encourages me to bring this culture into the world , particularly to the communities that I am going to serve .
This journey has been a heart-stretching one . It is a never-ending transformation of my stony heart into Jesus ’ s tender Sacred Heart . This transformation brings a new radical identity allowing me to be in the world but not conform to the world . I can tell the world that God ’ s love is more powerful than any suffering and sin . The love of Jesus gives us hope in everything we do .
Lastly , I want to encourage young men who have had or are having thoughts of becoming a priest . From what I have experienced , I really urge you to not be afraid because it is going to be a great journey , for the Lord is and will be walking with you every step of the way . Trust in his deep and everlasting love for you personally .
shms . edu 23