By Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News

During celebration of Mass on the Feast of St. Dominic Aug. 8, 2024, Bishop Mark Hagemoen accepted diocesan seminarian Huy Le as a candidate for Holy Orders for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon.

The celebration marked the formal acceptance by the bishop and the Catholic community of Le’s commitment to pursue ordination, continuing his path of formation, study and discernment as he prepares to enter his third year of Theology at Christ the King Seminary in Mission, B.C. this fall.

Diocesan Co-Director of Vocations Fr. Colin Roy called Le forward to declare his resolve before the bishop to complete the preparation needed to undertake ministry of Holy Orders in the Church, promising to “form mind and heart” in a way that will enable him “to faithfully serve Christ the Lord and His Body the Church.”

Homily:

This is a significant moment on the journey of vocational discernment, said Hagemoen, addressing Le during the homily.

“God has bestowed you with many gifts that would seem very well suited to the priesthood,” said the bishop. “But ultimately your whole journey to the priesthood, as you know, is not about you, it is about God, and it is about what God wants to do in your life. And, of course, your happiness, your fulfillment in life – as for all of us – comes from fulfilling God’s plan and doing God’s will. That is still unfolding.”

The bishop noted that Le is “putting his hand to the plough,” echoing the proclamation of the Gospel from Luke 9. “That doesn’t mean that discernment is not still an issue, however, we rely now less on our own inspiration and ability, we rely on God’s grace,” Hagemoen said urging Le to “rely on the call before you, to be God’s priest… rely on the call to preach, by word and life, his way and kingdom..  rely on Him to be your model of what it really means to care for God’s devoted people.”

The bishop concluded with words of encouragement: “May this day mark an important day on a very significant journey. Please rely on our prayers and our support, and on the ongoing formation that comes to you through our diocese and of course through the seminary. Please know that the People of God are also your formators – and they continue to show through their faith, their love and their service to the Church in living of their vocation, how you are called to do the same in your God-given vocation.”

About the candidate:

Born in Vietnam in 1999, Le moved to Canada in 2011 with his family – his father (who died in 2019), his mother and younger sister. His paternal grandmother, uncles, cousins and other relatives are also living in Saskatoon.

Le has been actively involved in the Our Lady of La Vang Vietnamese Catholic Community, as an altar server and youth leader. He studied at the University of Saskatchewan and St Thomas More College in Saskatoon from 2017 to 2022, finishing undergraduate and philosophy pre-requisites. In 2021-2022, Le was part of the Sts. Benedict and Scholastica diocesan spiritual and human formation program in Saskatoon.

From May to August, Le has been serving at the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon, preparing to continue his studies in September at the seminary in Mission, B.C.

Asked about his vocation, Huy Le cited the Prayer of the Chalice: “Father, to You I raise my whole being, a vessel emptied of self.”

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Vocations, Education of Future Priests, and Communications are among the ministries supported by gifts to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal. Find out more or donate online: BAA website

(Kiply Lukan Yaworski is coordinator of commuications for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon: cdos.ca)