Pastoral Year
St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Bangor
Biography:
“Become all things to all” (1 Cor 9,22)
I am Thanh Pham, and Saigon, Vietnam, is my hometown. I was born in a big family; my parents have three sons and seven daughters. My parents used to serve for the American army in the Vietnamese War. I grew up in a faithful Catholic family; therefore, I am nurtured in the life of faith. When I was child, I attended Mass everyday with my grandmother. At my first Communion, I made promises with Jesus that “Death is better than sin, and Jesus and Blessed Mary are my friend,” just as St. Dominic Savior did. This commitment continues to strongly compel me to be a good child of God and to be a saint. Additionally, I desired to become a priest since seeing my pastor say Mass at the altar.
In 2005, after I completed one week of spiritual exercises, I was accepted as a candidate in the Society of Jesus. In this community, I learned many things to help me discover myself and my vocation more. In addition, I was trained in every dimension of the vocation: human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral. In the vision of St. Ignatius: “Everything for the glory of God.” After four years, through prayer, I recognized my vocation to be a diocesan priest rather than a religious priest. By the grace of God, I was accepted into the Diocese of Portland. I am continuing my formation with a pastoral year at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Bangor
St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians in his first letter: “I have become all things to all, to save at least some”; similarly, I want to be “servant of servants of God” because “the love of Christ impels me."
Fun Facts:
Hobbies: Traveling, walking on the beach, hiking, singing and listening to music
Favorite Bible passages:
- “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38).
- “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man” (Lk 5,8) and “they left everything and followed him” (Lk 5:11).
- “Yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20)
- “Become all things to all” (1Cr 9:22)
- “For the love of Christ impels us” (2Cr 5:14)
- Psalm 51: Prayer of Repentance
Favorite Saints: Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, St. Peter and St. Paul, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Dominic, St. Stanislaus Kostka, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, St. John Berchmans, St. John Bosco, St. Dominic Savior, St. Maria Goretti, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, St. Teresa of Calcutta, St. Padre Pio, St. John Paul II.
