By Celeste Behe of the AD Times, February 26, 2026, reprinted with permission
Sister Lisa Marie Valentini, M.S.C. led the students in a prayer to know one’s vocation before directing them in a joyous “echo song,” accompanied by Sister’s guitar.
Brother Warren Perrotta, M.S.C. then shared that, although he himself did not feel called to the priesthood, he knew even as a child that he wanted to give his life to God. He found his vocation when a classmate told him that “brothers are not ordained, but they’re equal with priests in the work they do around the world.” After taking vows, Brother Warren did missionary work in an area of Fiji so remote that he prayed, “God, do you even know where this place is?” He emphasized the strong sense of brotherhood among the MSCs. “We have both priests and brothers, and we all take the same vows. We’re one community, and we call each other brethren,” he said.
Brother Francis Hung Nguyen, M.S.C. discovered his vocation “by accident,” through a chance phone call. “I felt God saying, ‘Come and serve with love,’” he recalled. “In many ways, our God calls us,” Brother Francis noted. “He speaks in our hearts, through people, through prayer, through what makes us feel happy and peaceful. My message for you is, you do not need to be perfect. You only need to pray, listen, be kind, and trust.”
Sister Lisa Marie returned to close the program with a moving account of her emergency baptism of a Peruvian baby. “Two weeks later, I was transferred, and I never saw the mom or the baby again. I don’t know what happened, but I do know that that baby became a child of God because there was a missionary there. I was there. The invitation today is for you to be there.”
Holy Family School has been dedicated to Catholic education since its founding in 1910 by Father Peter Fuengerlings, M.S.C. and the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Sisters. Its curriculum promotes intellectual growth, faith-based values, and a culture of service.
Photo: Br. Warren Perrotto, MSC, Br. Joachim Vetenge, MSC, Sister Lisa Marie Valentini, MSC, and Br. Francis Hung Nguyen
Br. Joachim Vetenge reminisced about God being a part of his life from a young boy growing up in Papua, New Guinea. He slowly heard God calling to ‘come and serve with love’. He said that God’s calling is often quiet not loud. He then encouraged everyone to be brave, be kind and be open to God.
Photo: Br. Joachim Vetenge, MSC speaks at Holy Family School
