In honor of Father’s Day, the OC Catholic asked several of our Religious within the Diocese of Orange to speak a bit about their dads – specifically what kind of influence their fathers had on their spiritual lives and what makes their fathers special. The OC Catholic wishes all the dads in our Diocese and beyond, a happy and blessed Father’s Day!
FR. DANIEL SEO IS PICTURED WITH FROM LEFT TO RIGHT HIS GRANDFATHER BYUNGDUCK SEO AND FATHER PAUL SEO. PHOTO COURTESY OF FR. DANIEL SEO.
FATHER DANIEL SEO (DIRECTOR OF OUR LADY OF PEACE KCC)
What three words best describe your father?
Selfless, Dedicated, Hidden
How has your father inspired your faith life?
My father has taught me that God always comes first, no matter what challenges
we face in life. If we invite God into our challenges, He will always sort them out the best way imaginable.
What is the best advice your father has given you?
“Think before you do.” — I always had an assertive temperament. While not necessarily a bad trait to have, sometimes I have made rash decisions due to impatience and pride. But my father has reminded me time and again that correct choices come from observation and listening. While I grew up hearing this in Scripture, I got to see it lived by my father.
SR. CHRISTEN NGUYEN, LHC (LOVERS OF THE HOLY CROSS OF LOS ANGELES)
What are three words that describe your father best?
Loving, and Hardworking
How has your dad influenced your spiritual life?
My father is a man of faith and deep trust in God. Growing up, I was always reminded to pray and believe in God’s merciful love and providence, and that with God, anything is possible. As a permanent deacon, my father also modeled that faith and trust in God through his prayer life, and service in the Church. When I said “yes” to joining religious life at the young age of 18, my father was the one who fearlessly encouraged me to follow God’s will, and to trust in His guidance. Indeed, my father’s love for God, love for his family and love to serve others, has shaped
me into who I am today as a religious sister.
What is the best advice your dad has given you?
“Be humble and be thankful for what God has given you.”
SR. GEMMA HUGOBOOM, S. PRAEM WITH HER FATHER, MATTHEW HUGOBOOM. PHOTO COURTESY OF SR. GEMMA HUGOBOOM, S. PRAEM
SR. GEMMA HUGOBOOM, S. PRAEM. (NORBERTINE SISTERS)
What three words that best describe your father?
Devout, loving, committed.
How has your father influenced your faith life?
My father’s example of faithfully attending daily Mass, making holy hours and praying the rosary inspired me to do the same. When I was a little girl he would make me hot chocolate to motivate me to get up early for Mass, and eventually I fostered a love for Jesus in the Eucharist.
What is the best advice your father has given you?
My father once told me that when God sends crosses and afflictions it disposes us to love Him and others with a more purer quality of love.
QUAN VU, FATHER OF FR. MARTIN VU, SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA CATHOLIC CHURCH, LAKE FOREST. PHOTO COURTESY OF FR. MARTIN VU.
FATHER MARTIN VU (SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA CATHOLIC CHURCH)
What three words best describe your father?
Faithful, hard-working, devoted
How has your father inspired your faith life?
When we were younger, every day after school my dad would take me and my siblings to visit the church and pray before the Blessed Sacrament before going home. Then at night before going to bed we would pray the Rosary together as a family. And every Sunday after Mass, we would stay a little while longer to give thanks to God for the graces we received. Because of his example, I continue to pray the Rosary, visit the Blessed Sacrament and give thanks to God after Mass. If it wasn’t for the spiritual habits and foundation that my dad gave me, I likely wouldn’t be a priest today.
What is the best advice your father has given you?
The best advice my dad has given me is to put God at the center of my life, to always be on guard against temptation and to always focus on doing what God
asks of me.