Fr. Paul (Phong) Hoang, SCJ
“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.”
-Fr. Paul Phong Hoang, SCJ
Originally from Vietnam, Fr. Paul’s family immigrated to the United States in 2007 and settled in Houston. Before pursuing his vocation to religious life, Fr. Paul earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Houston.
In 2016 Fr. Paul began studies with the Dehonians and professed his first vows in 2018. He 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 (prison ministry), juvenile jail visitation, Catholic Charities, and parish ministry at St. Martin of Tours in Franklin, WI.
In 2023, Fr. Paul made his perpetual profession of vows, spent the summer doing cross-cultural studies in Ecuador, and completed his final semester of seminary studies at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology before ordination to the diaconate on December 9. He was ordained to the priesthood at Our Lady of Guadalupe church in Houston.
He is now on a pastoral team that serves six parishes in northern Mississippi.
When asked what he has most enjoyed during his first months of full-time ministry, Fr. Paul emphasized that it has been the people. “Our parishioners have been very warm and welcoming,” he said. “There is a vibrant parish life in our six parishes with good attendance at Mass and parish activities. I have enjoyed working with the parish DREs and our youth. And I have enjoyed preaching; people really do listen to our homilies.”
Some of those homilies have been in Spanish, as Fr. Paul puts last summer’s Spanish-immersion experience into action. However, until he becomes fluent, he said that he gets help from an online translation app and then has a Spanish-speaking parishioner review his written text.
When asked about his “yes” to the call to be a Dehonian priest, Fr. Paul spoke about bringing the love of Christ “to people throughout ministries and services, to help people realize that the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the answer to our hungry hearts. I am truly convinced by St. Peter’s words to Jesus when he said: ‘Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’” [John 6:68]
Like many, when Fr. Paul first began discerning his vocation to ordained ministry, he did not know the difference between diocesan and religious priesthood. “Once I began studying with the SCJs and spent more time with them, I realized that I like community life and our individual SCJs. Our community members are very diverse, down to earth, and make space for people from different backgrounds. They have a good sense of humor.
Advice for those discerning a vocation?
“Our community – the Dehonians – makes space for people from all different walks of life,” said Fr. Paul. “Let us not be discouraged by a person, an incident, a thing that hurt or bothered us. The love of Christ and our charism are what unite us. There are still people in the world searching for the Truth, hungry for Christ, and wanting to be loved. Despite our personal human weaknesses, God continues to call us to serve His Church and people.
“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.”
