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“Despite our unworthiness, if God calls us, he will take care of us. There were many moments in my journey during formation that God either steered me in a certain direction or sent people to assist me in difficult times. Take courage and cooperate with his grace, respond to his invitation”
-Dn. Paul Phong Hoang, SCJ
On December 9, Paul Phong Hoang, SCJ, was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Donald J. Hying of the diocese of Madison, WI. In a ceremony filled the blend of cultures that reflect Dn. Paul’s life, the music, readings, and prayers were done in a mix of Vietnamese and English. The ordination took place at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, where just a few days earlier he had completed his MDiv.
Dn. Paul, 31, is originally from Ha Tien, Kien Giang, Vietnam. His family immigrated to the United States in 2007 and settled in Houston, Texas. Before pursuing his vocation to religious life, Dn. Paul earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Houston.
In 2016 he began studies with the community and professed his first vows in 2018. Dn. Paul did his pastoral year in Lower Brule, SD, and has been involved in a variety of other ministries including the ESL program with the Vietnamese Association in Uptown Chicago, the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement (TNTT), St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care in Milwaukee, Dismas Ministry, Juvenile Jail visitation, Catholic Charities, and with St. Martin of Tours parish (a parish near SHSST served by SCJs).
This year in particular has been a busy one. Dn. Paul made his perpetual profession of vows in May and did cross-cultural studies in Ecuador before returning to SHSST for his final semester of seminary studies.
Reflecting on his call to be a Dehonian, Dn. Paul said that “I was attracted to the SCJs’ simplicity, diversity and community life,” adding that “my journey of faith is an existential one. I was haunted by the idea of God and attracted to the love of Christ…
“What resonates with me in our Dehonian Spirituality is the focus on love, as well as the image of the Sacred Heart. It seems generic yet profoundly universal and necessary in our world. Love is what ultimately captivates and converts the heart.”
Following his ordination, Dn. Paul will spend the holidays with family in Houston before starting his assignment with the pastoral team in northern Mississippi. “I look forward to learning the basics of priesthood in parish settings, applying the training I received from the seminary, and get experience in how to live my vocation as a Dehonian in active ministry,” said Dn. Paul. “It is important for me to gradually transition into my new role as deacon; that means being more attentive toward the liturgy, preaching, serving at mass, and most importantly, living authentically to my vocation as future priest.”
On his way to Mississippi, Dn. Paul will make a quick detour to St. Louis to assist his novitiate classmate, Fr. Henry Nguyen, SCJ, at SEEK24, a gathering of prayer and fellowship in St. Louis for young Catholics from January 1-5.
When Dn. Paul was asked if he has advice for young people considering a vocational call, he said that “despite our unworthiness, if God calls us, he will take care of us. There were many moments in my journey during formation that God either steered me in a certain direction or sent people to assist me in difficult times.
“Take courage and cooperate with his grace, respond to his invitation.”
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