My journey to the priesthood began when I was a young altar server. I was drawn to the joy, sense of community, and the ministry of serving others. I want to emphasize from the outset that I never intended to join any religious orders because I had no understanding of them. However, I did wish…
Fr. Andrew Torma celebrates the 50th anniversary of his priestly ordination on Friday, June 12, 2026 with a mass at DeSales University Connelly Chapel in Center Valley, PA at 4:00 pm. There is a reception following at 5:00 pm at the University Center. Please join us in prayer as we express our appreciation for Fr….
My journey toward the priesthood began quietly, without me fully realizing it at first. When I was in the 3rd grade, I became an altar server in my parish. Standing close to the altar, serving at Mass, and watching the priest offer the Eucharist filled me with a deep sense of joy and peace. I…
Father Tony knew he wanted to be a missionary from the time he was in the fourth or fifth grade at St. Henry’s, a German national church, in Philadelphia, PA. He credits the MSC sisters and priests with providing an example in his childhood that inspires him to this day. From those days in the…
My story begins where I grew up in North Central Ohio, about five miles from the Major Seminary of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Shelby, Ohio. When I was in the fifth grade, one of our neighbors asked if I would like to accompany him to the “seminary,” where he would go to…
Cristhian Mancuello, MSC, was ordained a deacon in November. This is the testimony of his vocational journey. My lifelong parish is the MSC parish of San Pío X in Fernando de la Mora (Asunción), one of the cities close to the capital of Paraguay. I have been connected to the parish with my family since…
Br. Hung Nguyen, MSC Signs of a Call Ages 5-10: I often followed my older brother to the church to stay overnight on days when he served as an altar boy. The parish priest once told my parents that I should enter religious life in the future. On one occasion, I personally heard the priest…
Fr. Taaia Tawaia, MSC My name is Fr. Taaia, my father’s name is Tawaia, my biological mother is Teitirua and my step-mother is Atarena. I am the only child from my parents but I have four step-brothers and four step-sisters. My parents were divorced before I was born. I lived with my mother but when…
Fr. Joseph Tobias, MSC – Vocation Journey You often hear people talk about vocation as something you find. But, vocation comes to you. You must be in that state of mind or a ‘proper state of mind’ and God will find you. As a child, I grew up in a religious home. We had religious…
The genesis of my call to Consecrated life was passed to me from my parents, Joseph Torma and Leonie Gagnon. Both were strongly rooted in their Catholic faith and called to evangelize the world through the Church’s missionary effort. Both had attempted the Consecrated life, and they were asked to return home for various reasons….