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• Antonio Alvernaz Silveira was born Dec . 7 , 1951 in Terra do Pao , Pico , Azores , Portugal . Son of his late parents , Manual Francisco de Silveira and Ana Francisca Alvernaz , he was the sixth of eight children .
He attended schools in the Azores and enrolled in the seminary there , followed by enrollment in universities and seminaries in Angola until 1975 when , due to the civil war there , he joined his parents and family in the United States .
In his youth he served in several parishes as an altar server and in youth group ministry , and as a catechetical teacher and choir member .
For 36 years he was an active parishioner of Five Wounds Portuguese National Church in San Jose , serving as a lector , acolyte , religion instructor , choir member , Minister of Communion , and Finance Committee member .
Sliveira met his late wife , Margaret Marie Silveira , in 1976 and they were married in July 1977 at Five Wounds . He has two grown children , Christina and Anthony , and calls his family his “ support group ” which also includes four grandchildren . The couple was married for almost 34 years , but after fighting cancer for 11 years , she died in February 2011 .
He had become engaged in the diocesan program for permanent deacons and studied at Santa Clara University , in the Pastoral Ministries program , from 2009-2012 while in diaconate formation .
As he said last year at his ordination to transitional diaconate , “ My first Mass will be in Margie ’ s memory because for as long as I live , Margie will always live in my heart .”
He said he has wanted to be a priest since he was seven years old . He entered the major seminary of Christ the King in Huambo , Angola and left during the civil war in 1975 . Eventually he entered St . Patrick Seminary and University in Menlo Park .
“ I can proudly say I wanted to be a priest 55 years ago ,” he said . “ I honestly believe God had a special plan for me .”
He chose to serve the Diocese of San Jose because it “ has been my only one in 37 years in the USA , and our bishop , as well as all the priests who have helped me in my deacon and priestly formation , have been the best I could ask for .”
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• Dat Thanh Luong was born April 27 , 1982 in Viet Nam , youngest of six children of Nham Thi Do ( mother ) and the late Huong Van Luong ( father ), attended first through 10 th grades in Viet Nam .
He attended Andrew Hill High School in San José ( 1999-2001 ); Mesa Community College in San Diego ( 2001-2003 ) and San Jose State University ( 2003-2007 ) where he earned a BA in philosophy , followed by an M . Div . degree in the theology program at St . Patrick Seminary and University , Menlo Park .
He has been affiliated with St . Maria Goretti Parish in San Jose where he has served as a catechist and youth leader ; at Queen of Apostles Parish as a youth minister and in RCIA ; youth ministry at Holy Spirit ; youth leader , catechist and in RCIA at St . Elizabeth in Milpitas ; as a deacon at St . Thomas Aquinas Parish in Palo Alto ; and in the diocesan tribunal as an interpreter and translator .
He also worked during summers at Star Center where he was a math and English tutor .
He has chosen priesthood , he says , because “ I want to follow the call which I believe that God initiated in me . God is real and my life would be most meaningful if I can serve him . Becoming a priest is a way I can put myself entirely at God ’ s service . I have experienced how great , good and loving God is and I want to share this .”
He credits a Vietnamese Sister for inspiring his faith . “ Through her talks and example , I felt God was real .” He chose the Diocese of San Jose through a connection with a local Vietnamese priest .
He related , “ There seemed to be a special intervention that saved my life . I almost drowned in a river when I was 13 years old . However , I came out alive without any human help . Right after that , I told myself , it took a miracle for me to be alive . I believed that God helped me .”
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• Michael Dela Calzada Syjueco , son of Amparo Syjueco and the late Jose Ong Syjueco , was born May 30 , 1963 , youngest of four children , in Quezon City , Philippines .
He attended De La Salle University , 1980 – 1983 , Bachelor of Science in Business Management ; and was a candidate for a Master of Science in Guidance and Counseling .
He has served in ministry at various parishes : San Bartolome ( Malabon , Metro Manila ); Most Holy Redeemer Parish ( Quezon City ), Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary ( Paranaque City ); and in San Jose at St . Martin of Tours and St . Victor .
His many professional positions have included student counselor at Ateneo de Manila University , Quezon City ; working at Philippine Commercial and Industrial Bank in Makati City where he conducted management and leadership seminars ; part time counselor for working students at de La Salle University where he became Director of the Human Resources Development Center .
He worked for San Miguel Foods , Inc . and for Philippine Geothermal , Inc . ( subsidiary of Unocal 76 ) where he developed systems for employee performance , training , recruitment , and strategic planning .
He was engaged in campus ministry at De La Salle University and in music ministry with a Catholic Charismatic group .
He explained that he feels drawn to the priesthood , especially celebration of the sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation ; and ministering to the poor and victims of injustice . He was for a time a Discalced Carmelite .
He explained that “ during a process of long discernment , I realized I am drawn to serve God ’ s people in a parish community and have chosen the Diocese of San José in which to minister because it is my second home . During my years as a Discalced Carmelite I came to know many people . I want to grow where God has planted me .”
Significant events which he says have shaped his faith were the story of St . Therese of Lisieux , knowing a poor child in his youth and being concerned for him , and the words of a counselor who told him to remember that concern because it was “ out of the ordinary that a kid of my age would ask such questions .”
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• Mendie Nguyen , native of Sai Gon , Viet Nam , born May 8 , 1970 , is the third of five children of Mrs . Tina Pham and Mr . Mai Nguyen ; attended Sao Mai elementary school in Sai Gon , 1976-1981 ; Tran Quoc Toan junior high , 1981-1984 ; and Marie Curie High School in Sai Gon , 1984-1988 .
He came to the United States in 1991 . He has worked as a machine operator at an electronic company , 1992-1993 ; in food control at BorderFood Inc ., 1993-1996 ; and as a machine operator at a Riverside furniture plant , 1996-1998 ; and at Trane Inc . as a machine operator , 1998-2002 .
He attended Divine Word College , 2006-2007 , and St . Patrick Seminary and University in Menlo Park , 2007- 2013 , earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2008 .
He worked at O ’ Connor Hospital in San Jose for three months and received a certificate of Clinical Pastoral Training , and served a pastoral year at St . Justin Church , Santa Clara , 2010-2011 .
He said , “ I want to be a priest because I desire to share with people the love of God and his wonderful gifts through the sacraments . In order to respond to this call , I have a duty to strive for greater knowledge of divine truth and greater holiness of life so as to communicate more effectively Christ to people entrusted to my care . I also want to save my soul and others .”
He has chosen the Diocese of San Jose “ to serve God ’ s people within the local Church .”
Four new priests will be ordained for service in the Diocese of San Jose this year .
Dat Luong , Mendie Nguyen and Tony Silveira will be ordained at the Cathedral Basilica of St . Joseph in downtown San Jose , Sat ., June 1 , at 9:30 am .
San Jose Bishop Patrick J . McGrath will be presiding at the ordination .
Michael Syjueco will be ordained , Sat ., June 22 , in the Philippines at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish , Paranaque City .
For more information regarding Vocations in the Diocese of San Jose , visit www . dsj . org / vocations
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