Neither Communism, nor the “Boat People” ordeal at sea, nor pirates could drown out God’s call for my life. For whom he calls he also paves the way.
My path began one fateful morning on the shores of Communist-controlled Vietnam. Using a raft hidden near the shore, my mother and some four dozen people also seeking to escape, stealthily made their way from our home to where my father’s boat was waiting for us. I was only two weeks old and my mother held me tightly in her arms as we made our way to my father. The boat departed with my parents, their six children, and our friends. We only had enough food for one day and a daily ration of weak milk to sustain us for the journey.
A storm at sea and a broken compass left us drifting aimlessly at sea, hoping to find land and nourishment. Fuel was low and all of us were on the edge of survival when suddenly land appeared on the horizon. The citizens on the island welcomed us, kindly offered food, and let us know how to get to the refugee camp in Songkhla, Thailand.
After a few days, we were able to head back out to sea. Not long after we departed, our little boat was overtaken by pirates. We watched them approaching and could do nothing to stop them. The pirates pillaged through our things and carried away what little we possessed. Thankfully, we escaped with our lives.
Our hopes that the pirates would be the last of our troubles were short-lived. When we arrived off the shore of Thailand, we were denied entry. My family spent the next two weeks living on our boat until Thailandese soldiers loaded us into trucks and ushered us to a location near their military camp. Here, in this open forest camp, I was cleansed by the waters of baptism. For the next four months, we awaited sponsorship from overseas. Once sponsorship was established, we were finally able to go to America to begin a new life.
Not long after we moved to America, we learned that my father had cancer. He passed away in 1981, just a few years after arriving here. My mother now had the task of raising a family of 8 children, one of whom was born only 2 weeks after my father died.
Our faith took priority. For me, as I look back, my mother stood as a solitary pillar of faith immersed in a culture and mingled with a people whose language remained foreign to her. At my mother’s knees, I learned and memorized prayers. Daily Mass was a joyful obligation. My mother led by example. She frequently attended mass twice a day. Devotion to Mary had a special place; we prayed the rosary often as a family.
Our parish life was very lively. The parish youth group was very well-attended and offered many activities. I remember attending one of the summer camps when I was eight years old and thoroughly enjoyed the dynamic activities and religious instructions that were offered. The zeal and self-donation of our parish priest had a positive impression on me concerning the priesthood.
The spiritual nurturing my mother provided equipped me for the more turbulent years awaiting me. As a preteen, I had grown increasingly rebellious. I felt restless inside and sought fulfillment in something or someone that eluded me. Docility and discipline became progressively difficult. Soon, I picked up the habit of smoking in private. Fun, pranks, shoplifting, and fistfights served to smother the desire for prayer or anything spiritual. One thing remained lit under the ashes, however; the conscience that my mother formed in me guided and protected me from tumbling into more serious moral pitfalls.
In the summer of 1987, I met my first legionary priest, Fr. Anthony Bannon. He was seated in our living room, in a circle with some minor seminarians from the Immaculate Conception Apostolic School (ICAS), with my mom, and my older brother, who would enter ICAS that summer. A glow of happiness and peace radiated from this priest. His demeanor really captivated me.
When my mother returned from the airport, she said to one of my older brothers, “I’d like Thanh to try out the minor seminary in three years when he’s old enough.” My brother said to her in reply, “I really doubt they’d accept a troublemaker like him!” Shortly after this, another brother sat down beside my mom. She repeated the same thought to him and he said, “They wouldn’t accept the wise guy; even if they do, they won’t put up with him for more than a year, Mom.” Those comments made a big impression on me and confirmed to me that I had some changing to do. Right then and there, I resolved to prove them wrong!
When the time came to apply to ICAS, I was concerned that my grades would not be good enough to be accepted. I was very discouraged until my brother reminded me that I should put it all in God’s hands. Not long after that, I was on my way to ICAS in New Hampshire! I was 12 years old and had no idea what the experience would be like, but I was confident I was where God wanted me to be. The words once heard by the Prophet Jeremiah would echo in my ears, and remind me that my vocation and strength come from God:
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.” (Jeremiah 1: 5)
God calls whom he wishes. I have been greatly blessed to be among those he has chosen. Thanks to the Providence of God, to the loving formation – centered on God’s will no matter what… – imparted by my mom, and the zeal of Fr. Bannon and many other people, I was able to ‘chance’ upon a pearl invisible to human eyes. He gave me the grace to give up everything in exchange for this pearl.
Fr. Thanh Nguyen, LC, joined the Apostolic School of the Legion of Christ in New Hampshire in 1990. In 1995 he entered the Novitiate of the Legionaries of Christ in Cheshire, CT, and was ordained in Rome on December 12th, 2009. Fr. Thanh has worked and studied in Texas, Missouri, New Hampshire, Italy, Venezuela, and Michigan. His principal work in Michigan is with the Hispanic community, where he also assists the diocese in the field of Healing and Deliverance. Fr. Thanh recently earned a Master of Science Degree in Psychology from Divine Mercy University. He has been on 10 medical missions with Helping Hands Medical Missions in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Costa Rica, as well as several construction and evangelization missions to Costa Rica, Mexico, and Venezuela.Fr. Thanh Nguyen’s areas of expertise are spiritual guidance, accompaniment, and spiritual direction. He is fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, and Vietnamese.
