First steps on the road to religious life

On Tuesday, August 14, James Nguyen and Juan Carlos Castaneda Rojas were received into the novitiate for the U.S. Province of the Priests of the Sacred Heart during a prayer service at Sacred Heart Monastery/School of Theology. Fr. John Czyzynski, SCJ, is their novice master.

Reflecting on the next year, James said that “it is out of the desire to love and to remain in the Heart of Jesus that I want to enter the novitiate for the Priests of the Sacred Heart.  I look forward for the novitiate to be a year for me to go more deeply into the Heart of Jesus and fully be submerged in His love.  It is to see nothing with my own eyes, but only how everything reflects in His heart.

“Fr. Dehon reminds us that we do so in praise, love, thanksgiving, and reparation.  He summarizes this with a short prayer, ‘Lord, I want to serve you out of love, every day, every hour.’  This year, I wish to follow in the footsteps of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux to be a little flower that others can find simple joys in.  That way, I may one day become a bouquet of flowers for the Heart of Christ.”

Juan Carlos, or “Juancho,” as he is known in the formation house, said that he wants “to enter the novitiate for the Priests of the Sacred Heart because I identify myself with the charism and foundations of the community. I started a journey in my vocation and formation that connects me in a special way with the Priests of the Sacred Heart.

“Somebody said to me once that it does not matter where you are or what you do; if you happy then that is where you belong. Well I am REALLY happy with the Priests of the Sacred Heart so it is here where I feel that I belong!”

Click here to read biographies of James and Juan Carlos, as well as the rest of our student community.

Click here to view photos from the ceremony.