Fr. Tom Cassidy, SCJ, is in the Philippines this spring, assisting with the month-long English language program for SCJ students in Asia. While there he has been writing posts for our province blog, but is also doing interviews with some of his students. The interviews will be posted here in the order in which they are received (most recent interview first, earlier interviews follow).
Francis S.J. Atayza
SCJ Formation House, Cagayan de Oro
QUESTION: Francis, what is your full name?
ANSWER: My name is Francis S. J. Atayza the S. J. stands for San Juan.
Q: When and where were you born, Francis?
A: I was born on February 6, 1981, in the village of Ogod, Donsol [town], Sorsogon Province on the island of Luzon — that’s the island Manila is located on.
Q: Tell us something about your family.
A: I am the youngest child. I have one older sister and two older brothers. All three are married. I have two nieces and two nephews. My parents are retired. My mother was a first grade teacher and my father was also a teacher and worked for the government.
Q: When did you first think about your vocation to the Priests of the Sacred Heart?
A: I first thought about the priesthood during my second year of college in 1998. Last year I saw a poster from the SCJs at the shrine of Edsa (Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace) — that’s where the famous People Power movement took place. I sent a text message to the SCJ Formation Community in Manila and they invited me to visit.
Q: What about the SCJs inspires you?
A: I admire our founder Fr. Leo John Dehon and his desire to be among the people, especially with the poor. His working with them to better their lives, social justice if you will.
Q: How has your family reacted to your vocation?
A: My mother is a very religious woman, but she’s concerned that the life of a priest and religious is too difficult. My father has been more supportive at least when he speaks to me, but I think he also is concerned about how difficult this life can be. But now after I shared with them my experiences in the seminary, they are now very supportive.
Q: Besides your past seminary education what formal training have you had?
A: I graduated from college in 2001 with a BS degree in Business Administration majoring in management. I was tired of school after that so I worked for a year as a hotel bell hop, though I was actually hoping to get into the call center industry which was booming at the time.
I credit St. Anthony to whom I made a novena for landing me the job at a 411 call center. That’s the information number in the States that people call when their looking for a telephone number. I soon had a good knowledge of the cities and area codes used in the States.
I worked there for about five years and then got a five-month internship with a program sponsored by the Spanish Government. I studied Spanish while working in the call center. The internship was a program by which we wrote and recorded Spanish language programs my area of speciality was sports and the culinary arts. Our programs could be about the Philippines, Spain or sometimes Latin American countries.
When the internship ended I had to find another job and so worked for Maersk Line, a Danish shipping company, one of the largest in the world. I first handled the Mexico account and later on Honduras as a customer service agent. Because of the time difference both my call center job and Maersk were night jobs given the time difference between the Philippines and North and Central America.
Q: What has been your favorite moment with the SCJs?
A: Two things actually first the feeling of brotherhood that exists among us. I find that very attractive. On a different note, since I’ve been a little kid I dreamed of playing soccer, but it’s not a popular sport and here for the first time I’ve had the chance to play.
Q: What has been challenging for you so far?
A: I miss my family, especially my parents. I guess it’s a case of what you call homesickness.
Q: What are some of your hopes for the future, both for Philippines and for your own future with the community and ministry?
A: I hope the community will expand its work in Luzon (my home island). I am also interested in retreat ministry and hope the SCJs can develop this and missionary work as well.
Q: And finally a bit more about you. Do you have any hobbies? Special skills or talents?
A: Because my work was a night job I really haven’t developed many hobbies. I have learned Spanish and I like to write, though it’s an underdeveloped skill at this point in my life.
Q: Describe yourself to me.
A: You might say I’m a “mama’s boy.” I also have a very positive outlook on life.
Q: What would you like people to know about you that they might not be aware of?
A: I am a shy person, but once you get to know me you’ll find out I have a good sense of humor!
Peter Nguyen Quoc Cuong
SCJ Formation House, Cagayan de Oro
QUESTION: Peter, what is your full name?
ANSWER: My full name is Peter Nguyen Quoc Cuong, but I like to be called Peter.
Q: When and where were you born, Peter?
A: I was born in 1985 in Huong Phuang, Quang Trach District, Quan Binh Province
Q: Tell me something about your family.
A: I come from a large family I have six brothers and four sisters and I am the youngest. My father was a farmer but is now retired and one of my brothers takes care of the farm. My mother has been bedridden for the last nine years.
Q: When did you first think about your vocation to the Priests of the Sacred Heart?
A: I actually thought about being a priest when I was young but didn’t act on the idea. Slowly the idea became stronger and finally I discovered the SCJs on the internet. I met Fr. Quang and Fr. Phong and they introduced me to the community.
Q: What about the SCJs inspires you?
A: I have really come to admire Fr. Dehon, our founder. I first read about him on the Internet and that’s what attracted me to the community. I guess you can sum it up in our motto to be “Prophets of Love and Servants of Reconciliation.” I want to bring God’s love to others.
Q: Has your family been supportive of your desire to be a priest and an SCJ?
A: Yes, especially my mother. She has encouraged me to be the best person I can be and to bring God’s love to others. That’s why Fr. Dehon means so much to me. His idea and my mother’s encouragement help me in my daily struggles.
Q: What did you do before entering the seminary?
A: I studied Vietnamese Culture at school. Vietnam is made up of a number of different cultures; it’s really quite interesting. But because my family is poor and my mother has been bedridden I began to work at my brother’s restaurant as a cook. I’m actually a pretty good cook. I love to introduce people to our famous noodles called Mi Quang Noodles. Before coming to the SCJs I worked at the restaurant for four years and in order to help support my parents.
Q: What has been your favorite moment with the SCJs?
A: Maybe because I was a cook for four years it’s the food. Then again, remember that my family is poor and I appreciate what is put on the table: those who cooked it and for those who made it possible, our benefactors.
Q: What has been challenging for you so far?
A: English is very hard for me. I’ve been studying it now for two years and it is still very difficult. I’m trying to get ready for Xavier University to study philosophy but first I have to pass the entrance exam.
Q: What are some of your hopes for the future, both for Vietnam and for your own future with the community and ministry?
A: I really hope the community opens a new mission in Australia and I’d love to work there. I hope to be the best person I can be so that inspired by Fr. Dehon I can bring God’s love to people.
Q: And finally, a bit more about you. Do you have any hobbies? Special skills or talents?
A: I love to travel and observe other people. I am pretty good with computers and as you might guess, I’m a pretty good cook. I enjoy soccer and especially being goalie. I’m a quiet person with an engaging smile. I like people.
Q: When I asked the students where I should visit in Vietnam when I go there next month what did you tell me?
A: You must come to visit my part of Vietnam! We have the famous Heavenly Cave. It was only discovered in 2005 and is a very interesting place to see. Nearby are the Ba Na Hills not far from Da Nang. They say in one day you can experience the four seasons: Springtime in the morning, summer at noon, autumn in the afternoon and winter at night; well more like nights in the Middle East. The Ba Na Hills also have Vietnam’s largest amusement park.
July P. Zambrano
SCJ Formation House, Cagayan de Oro
QUESTION: What is your full name?
ANSWER: My name is July P. Zambrano and I was born on July 6, 1987 — that’s how I got my name (“July”).
Q: Where were you born?
A: I was born in General Santos City but my family lives in the Province of Medina Misamis Oriental.
Q: Tell us something about your family.
A: I’m the middle child: I have two sisters and three brothers. At the moment they are all still single.
Q: When did you first think about your vocation to the Priests of the Sacred Heart? What attracted you to the community? What is interesting or inspiring to you about Fr. Leo Dehon?
A: I first began thinking about the priesthood about two years ago. Slowly the feeling that I was being called has grown in its intensity. I actually didn’t know anything about the Priests of the Sacred Heart but a coworker of mine knew of the SCJs because his own parish was without a priest and the SCJs filled in. It’s at his suggestion that I contacted the SCJs.
I think the phrase “Prophets of Love and Servants of Reconciliation” sums it up for me.
Q: What has been the response of your family to your desire to become a priest and an SCJ?
A: My father has been very supportive; my mother not so much. She reminds me how of difficult it is to be a priest. Maybe it’s her way of showing support by showing the many challenges I’ll face.
Q: What’s your educational background and where are you in the SCJ formation process?
A: I have a BS degree in Computer Science and I’m just at the initial stages in SCJ formation. I am hoping to study philosophy at Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro next semester after passing the qualifying test.
Q: What’s has been one of your favorite moments with the SCJs?
A: I came last fall for a three-day Come and See experience. When I was working I tried to go to daily Mass but it wasn’t always possible due to the work schedule. I love that we have daily Mass and Adoration.
Q: What has been a challenging part of formation?
A: It was hard the first three days as I was the only Filipino but now there are three of us and I have adjusted to the group as well.
Q: What are some of your hopes for the future, for yourself and for the Philippines?
A: I hope we can bring more people to God and the Sacred Heart. I hope we SCJs will attract more vocations.
Q: Tell me a bit more about yourself. Do you have any hobbies or special skills?
A: I love movies. I especially like religious movies and in particular I like the life of St. Paul. I enjoy playing badminton and am just learning how to play soccer. While I’m not great at it I really do like to sing. As for skills I enjoy cooking and computers and I love to engage people in conversation. I like dancing and I belonged to a dance group that did folk dancing.
Q: What is something that people might be surprised to know about you?
A: I’m a devotee of the Divine Mercy. I always go to El Savador City where the Shrine of Divine Mercy is located, especially on Divine Mercy Sunday. Every day I pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, the Chaplet of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Chaplet of God the Father of All Mankind, and last, but not least, I am also very devoted to the Mother of God, and I always find time during the day to pray the Holy Rosary.
Q: How would you describe yourself?
A: I can always find good even in bad situations. I am a very positive person and look for the good in people.
Anthony Ngo Minh Cuong
SCJ Formation House, Cagayan de Oro
QUESTION: Anthony, what is your full name?
ANSWER: My name is Anthony Ngo Minh Cuong.
Q: When and where were you born, Anthony?
A: I was born in 1990 in Phi Hung Commune, Ca Nuoc District, Ca Mau Province. It is about an eight-hour bus ride south from Ho Chi Minh City. It’s in the Me Cong Delta.
Q: Tell us something about your family.
A: I am the youngest child. I have one older brother and two sisters. They are all married. I have three nephews and one niece. My father died last year and my mother is living with my brother. My father was a farmer and now my brother takes care of the farm. My family is poor.
Q: When did you first think about your vocation to the Priests of the Sacred Heart?!
A: My family does not come from a Catholic background. My brother became interested in the SCJs and was with the community for a time. In 2009, Fr. Jerry Sheehy, SCJ, visited my family. At that time I had completed my high school studies but my parents did not have the money to send any of us to the university. Fr. Jerry said he wanted to help me to continue my education. He said I could stay at the seminary just for the education and did not need to become a seminarian. He was like a real father to me and I loved him a lot. When he died, something inside of me was touched and it led me to the SCJs. I want to be a good person just like Fr. Jerry; he impressed me a lot.
[Editor’s note: Fr. Jerry Sheehy was in the original group of SCJ missionaries who went to the Philippines in 1989. After many years there Fr. Jerry left to become one of the co-founders of the SCJs’ presence in Vietnam. Originally from our British-Irish Province, Fr. Jerry died of pancreatic cancer on March 9, 2012.]
Q: What about the SCJs inspires you?
A: Fr. Leo John Dehon, our founder, was a great gift. That SCJs preach the love of God to others, I find that to be very attractive.
Q: Besides your seminary education what other formal training have you had?
A: I’ve completed college. I studied Petrochemical Technology. At the present I am here in the Philippines studying English. I hope to begin philosophy at Xavier University next semester.
Q: What has been your favorite moment with the SCJs?
A: Well I think I have to give you two. The day I joined the SCJs and the day I came to the Philippines. Both of these moments seem to have changed my life.
Q: What are some of your challenges?
A: Studying English, my English is really poor. I’ve only been at it for about a year. I have to study hard, but I like studying English. In a way it’s exciting.
Q: What are some of your hopes for the future, both for Vietnam and for your own future with the community and ministry?
A: That our community will grow in Vietnam so we can bring to people God’s love for us.!
Q: And finally, a bit more about You. Do you have any hobbies? Special skills or talents?
A: I love playing soccer; I play attacker. I love to swim. Coming from the Delta there are many rivers and so I like fishing as well. I love music, especially romantic music in both Vietnamese and English. I’m good with computers and I like to make other people smile. I like to be active!
Q: Describe yourself.
A: I’m 1.75 meters tall and weigh 60 kilograms. [5’ 8” tall and 132 pounds] I’m quiet and patient. Not handsome, but good looking. I’m a bit shy at times. I smile a lot and am a happy person. I think I’m generous and Ireally do like people. I’d rather play than study but I am hard working and, oh yes, I’m afraid of ghosts!
Q: What would you like people to know about you that they might not be aware of?
A: I would like them to not listen to what I say but to watch what I do.
Vincent Le Tiep Van
SCJ Formation House, Cagayan de Oro
QUESTION: Vincent, what is your full name?
ANSWER: My baptismal name is Vincent and my Vietnamese name is Le Tiep Van. I like being called Vincent.
Q: Where were you born and in what year?
A: I was born in 1987 and my family lives in Buì Chu Province, Nam Dink City, not far from Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.
Q: Before studying to become an SCJ what did you do?
A: I studied tourism and became a tour guide in the Hanoi area.
Q: Tell us about where you come from and your family.
A: I come from a large family. I am the youngest of nine and I have four older brothers and four older sisters. My parents are still living and are now retired. My father was a high school teacher. Our house is located right next to our parish church.
Q: How did you learn about the SCJs?
A: There are no SCJs in the Hanoi area. I heard about the Priests of the Sacred Heart from the internet and met Fr. Phong, SCJ, who is now in Rome. Since then I’ve learned a lot about Fr. Leo John Dehon, our founder.
Q: What is your family’s response to your vocation?
A: My parents wanted me to become a priest. One of my sisters is a nun, a member of the Dominican Sisters, and she told me a lot about religious life and has encouraged my vocation.
Q: Where are you in the SCJ education process?
A: I am completing my orientation year and have been studying English, first in Vietnam and now here. I hope to enter Xavier University (Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines) and begin studying philosophy next semester.
Q: What has been one of your favorite moments with the SCJ community?
A: My time studying English. It has not been easy but I have enjoyed it. I also like community life as it reminds me of my own family life. We are like a family here.
Q: What has been a challenging part of your formation?
A: English is not an easy language, especially pronouncing it correctly!
Q: What are your hopes if you become an SCJ and a priest?
A: I want to be a missionary. I would like to go to other parts of Asia; there is a rich culture with a great opportunity to preach the Gospel. I would also like to visit Rome.
Q: Anything else that you would like to share about yourself?
A: I like sports; soccer it is my favorite, followed by basketball. I like to read, one of my favorite books is Chicken Soup. I always try to have a smile on my face and I enjoy being with people.
