Divine Word College

Have you ever wondered what happens to Divine Word College graduates who do not become missionary priests? Who choose a different path in serving God?

As the only Catholic college seminary in the US that educates young men for missionary service, Divine Word College plays a significant role in spreading the Gospel of Christ in places where it has not yet been proclaimed. St. Arnold Janssen began his life in God’s service as an ordinary diocesan priest in Muenster, Germany. Yet he later felt called to his true vocation as founder of the missionary Society of the Divine Word. Likewise, some aspiring missionary students here at DWC may discern that their vocations lie in different areas of religious service than that of an SVD missionary.

In this article, some of our DWC alumni share with you the diverse roads they’ve traveled in their responses to God’s call.

graduate’s story. Fr. John Tuyen Tran had attended two missionary seminaries in Vietnam before coming to the US. Introduced to DWC by a Vietnamese priest, Tran applied to the college and began ESL studies in 1994. Two years later he became a freshman. During most of his seminary experience, Tran “thought that his vocation was to become a missionary.”

But by the time he graduated in 2000, Tran had discerned that his calling led him down a different road – that of a diocesan priest. Four years later, he was ordained by Bishop James Murray in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In July of 2006, he became the pastor of St. Jerome Church in Battle Creek, Michigan. “Today, I feel joyful and happy in my vocation,” he says. “I love the interaction with the people of the parish and the work that I do as pastor.”

Tran feels that “English was a challenge back at DWC, and is still a challenge in my vocation today.” And being a Vietnamese priest in a completely English-speaking parish is tough. “I worry that I won’t be able to minister properly because of the language barrier,” he says, “but the people interact with and help me very much.”

Looking back to his years at Divine Word College, Tran says, “I loved the formation programs. The priests, Brothers and formators helped us to grow in our spirituality and to discern our vocations.”

Like his fellow classmate Tran, Fr. Khanh D. Nguyen, an ESL student at DWC in 1995-1996, also chose to follow a different path in God’s service. Ordained as a diocesan priest in June of 2006, in the Archdiocese of Seattle, he now serves St. Joseph Parish in Vancouver, Washington.

Nguyen is eager to thank those at Divine Word College who helped him discern the road to take in following his own call to proclaim the Good News. He says, “It was great to study at DWC because it helped me to develop and understand my vocation.” Nguyen adds that “the wonderful staff, priests and Brothers were so friendly and helpful to me. Fr. Joseph Tri, Fr. Mike Hutchins and Fr. Ken Anich are three of the very special priests who listened to me and guided me.”

During his time at DWC, Nguyen made many friends among the students and faculty and often recalls his good times with them. “While I was at the college,” he says, “I came to see that the parish work was what I loved and wanted to do. Today, I am so happy to be ordained and serving the people at St. Joseph’s.”

“Last month I received a letter . . . with a request to look back at my wonderful days in the seminary at Divine Word College,” writes Fr. Jesus Dominguez, associate pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in Sterling, Illinois. “I could have received a good academic education in many places, but I found that being at DWC was crucial in my life and in my discernment.” He adds, “To me, it was a place where I felt affirmed in my search for God’s will, a place where I was among other young men from different countries and cultures who were discerning their own call from God.”

Dominguez feels he was very blessed to have been able to have a seminary education with priests and Brothers who had been “around the globe.” He adds, “The seminary provided the perfect forum for my exploration . . . and the ministry that I was performing among the surrounding communities challenged me in my vocational call.”

Dominguez refers to Frs. Ken Anich and Mike Hutchins as his mentors and trusted friends, offering support – but not the decisions that only he could make for himself. During a senior year retreat to East Troy, Wisconsin, Dominguez finally realized the path he must take. “When the decision was made and acted upon, a sense of true peace prevailed over me.”

Dominguez has found his life’s meaning and fulfillment as a parish priest. He says, “I felt myself already a missionary because I was out of my native country, Mexico. I had to learn a foreign language and a new culture that was alien to mine.” He felt deeply called to serve the Hispanic community and help fulfill the need for Spanish-speaking priests.

A gentleman in Dominguez’ parish once asked him: “You really love being a priest, don’t you?” To which he answered, “Yes, that is the truth. I love my relationship with Christ and being a priest . . . and I am prepared because of the education that I received during my formation to the priesthood at Divine Word College.”

Fr. Bich Vu’s winding vocational path began with a promise and a miracle – 29 years ago – when he was adrift in a crippled boat in the South China Sea. As the days passed, Bich Vu, his family and 125 fellow refugees who had fled Vietnam were filled with despair. In desperation, the young boy promised that he would devote his life to God if He would save them. Later that day, the group was rescued by a Japanese ship.

California, the nagging feeling that something was missing in his life began to overwhelm him. Despite the skepticism of family and friends, he arrived at DWC in 1993, determined to make good on his covenant with God.

“When I first came, I didn’t speak English well,” he says, “but the college has the best ESL program that I’ve experienced, and an excellent philosophy department.” Bich Vu graduated as a philosophy major in 1996. “I believe that you need a good foundation in philosophy before beginning theology studies,” he says. After completing the Novitiate at Techny, he went on to Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, where he received his Master of Divinity degree in 2002.

During his years of study, Bich Vu determined that he was called to be a diocesan priest. “DWC rounded out my varied life experiences and gave me the spiritual and educational skills I needed. I was able to discern that my vocation was calling me to minister in the parish environment.”

Ordained in June, 2006, Bich Vu is now an associate pastor at St. Boniface Church in Anaheim, California. His parish comprises over 8,000 Hispanic, Vietnamese and English families. Even for a priest who speaks five languages – Vietnamese, Japanese, French, Spanish and English – Bich Vu’s biggest challenge today is the language issue. “I have to speak and prepare homilies in three different languages,” he says. “I want to be able to minister to all the people in a spirit of understanding.”

Frs. Bich Vu, Dominguez, Nguyen and Tran all proclaim the Good News of Christ in a country not of their origin – in the true spirit of Divine Word Missionaries. But becoming a parish priest is just one form of religious service that some DWC graduates have chosen. Meet two more DWC alumni who, as priests, have traveled different roads in following God’s call to serve.

Going farther back in the college’s history, we meet Mark Wilson, who graduated from DWC in 1978. Born and raised in Whittier, Calif., the young altar boy was awarded a parish scholarship to the local diocesan high school. Wilson also made regular retreats to the SVD’s minor seminary at Riverside. After graduation, he was accepted at DWC and journeyed east to Epworth, Iowa. His vocational path has led him full circle, back to the west coast Monastery of Annunciation Hermitage, in Oregon.

Now known as Fr. Arsenius, he says, “My experience at DWC was instrumental in helping me to situate my particular vocation within the universal mission of the Church to preach the Gospel to all nations.” His vocation comprises a dual role. He is both a diocesan priest in the diocese of Baker, Ore., and a consecrated anchorite under Canon 603. But “while I am a diocesan priest, I am not a secular priest,” he says, adding that “. . . even though I am in consecrated life . . . it is a daily challenge to discern what it is that the Holy Spirit is doing with respect to my dual vocations...”

Living alone in a small rustic cabin, Fr. Arsenius’ monastic life includes study, reading, prayer and penance – although he regularly visits the Monastery of the Annunciation. He feels that the greatest rewards of his calling are twofold: to “be an instrument of reconciliation between God and sinners in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and to offer the Mass each day for the people.”

Though Fr. Arsenius is not responsible for the spiritual welfare of a particular community, he follows the motto of the SVD: “The world is my parish.” He says, “I end up ministering Christ to the many with whom I come in contact either remotely or directly.”

Finally, we arrive at the year 1969, when Charles Canterna graduated from Divine Word College. Fr. Chuck, as he is known today, was raised in a large Catholic family in Natrona Heights, PA.. During a visit to his grade school by an SVD Vocation Director, Canterna knew with certainty that God had called him. After finishing at Divine Word Seminary in Girard, Pa., he came to DWC.

“Those were eight wonderful, well-rounded years – the formative years – which are so important,” he says of his years at Girard and Epworth. “They were some of the best years of my life, with education and prayer revolving around the whole centeredness of the Eucharistic community.” Canterna adds that “by the time I came to Epworth, it was after Vatican II. Things were more flexible, and I had tremendous spiritual growth, both individually and in the community. Priests like Frs. Donaghey, Baxter, Simon and Rigney – to name just a few – were such models and mentors!”

Canterna feels that “it is a Godsend for me to be contacted by DWC for my story. For years, I have wanted to say thank you to everyone there – for teaching me the way of Christ.”

Though Canterna had wanted to be a missionary, the turbulent times of the ‘60’s caused him to change his mind. “I saw a need to minister right here; in this country that was literally tearing itself apart over war and human rights issues.” Since 1974, Canterna has been in Baltimore, Md. – as a seminarian, deacon and finally, diocesan priest. He was ordained in 1976, and initially served as an assistant pastor for six years.

But in 1982, Canterna started on a new path for Christ when he became prison chaplain at the Maryland State Penitentiary. Since 1989, he has been the chaplain at the Supermax prison in Baltimore. With his office located in the prison, he is on continuous call, ministering hope and faith to the inmates. Each day, Canterna offers Mass at one of the four area prisons that house Baltimore’s 7,800 inmates.

Even after 25 years as a prison chaplain, Canterna finds few difficulties to relate about his work. Energized with missionary zeal, he says only, “It’s all about obedience, service, self-discipline and being open to the Lord. Christ does it all – I myself don’t do anything, except through Him.” But he will talk of the rewards of his ministry: “Here,” he says, “we have executions and murders around the clock. With the inmates on death row – I try to help them find God, peace and strength before they die.”

Christ calls on all of us to be ministers and missionaries, each in our own way. And though He calls some to be missionary priests, still others heed His different call to “Come, follow Me.”

In the late 1990s, the administrator of a downtown Catholic Church in Dubuque received a phone call. A woman and her dog had been sleeping in nearby Jackson Park, he was told. Could anyone help?

“The irony of this story is that they could find a shelter for the dog, but there was no place for the woman to stay,” says Michelle Brown. “Nationwide, our country has more animal shelters than shelters for people.” Brown is Executive Director of Maria House and Teresa Shelter in Dubuque—two innovative
housing initiatives for women and their children.

On Wednesday, March 14, 2007, family and friends joined Divine Word College in honoring Michelle Brown as the 2006 recipient of the Matthew 25
Award—presented annually to someone engaged in front-line ministries with the “least among us” in the spirit of the gospel of St. Matthew, Chapter 25. Award recipients minister among immigrants and refugees, street people, AIDS victims, inner-city youth, prisoners—all those who live at the margins of our society and still lack a public voice. Rev. Michael Hutchins, DWC president, says, “This award offers recognition and affirmation, and renews and inspires our own ideals, reminding us all of the higher values and mission of our college.”

If you stop in at Maria House, you may see a toddler who offers to share his toys with you—beaming proudly as he takes each one out of the playroom toy box. You might see his mother, making coffee in the Maria House kitchen. A middle-aged, grandmotherly woman may be sitting on the sofa in the playroom, supervising the toddler. You’ll feel like you are in someone’s warm and secure home. And you’ll wonder: Where would they be, if they couldn’t stay here?

The seed for Maria House was planted and nurtured by six Catholic women religious congregations in the Dubuque area. With the help of local community leaders, it came to fruition in June of 1999 with the formation of Opening Doors. This non-profit corporation offers hospitality and opportunity to women, alone or with children, who need emergency or transitional housing and related support services.

“The women at Maria House are no different than you or me,” Brown says. “The only difference is that we have family support – a safety net – to catch us when we fall. They don’t.”

A licensed social worker with twenty years of experience in human services and mental health, Brown also has her license in Intensive Psychiatric Rehabilitation. As a clinical case manager for ten years with the Gannon Center Community Support program, she saw a real need for temporary housing in the area. And Maria House seemed like one of the solutions. “I had a sense of vision of what this place could be,” says Brown. “I wanted to step up to the challenge.”

Maria House opened its doors to its first resident on September 25, 2000, with Brown at the helm – after putting in long hours coordinating the renovation with community and local business support. Brown says that the addition of qualified, caring staff members helps make her job easier, and today Maria House has a team of twelve employees. “My family has also been a great source of help and support,” she adds.

After an initial assessment, each new resident at Maria House sets goals, abides by certain rules, and learns life skills for independent living. Women are expected to stay at least six months, but not longer than two years, and they must either work or attend school. “Many women are so beaten down, they can’t speak for themselves when they come here,” Brown says. “We want them to leave having found their own voice – a sense of who they are and who they can become.

“We are a work in progress,” Brown says. “We continually strive to develop and improve our program.” This spring, the first meeting of a new group of Iowa emergency and transition shelters will be held in Dubuque – one of Michelle’s visions – to further the goal of improving shelters statewide. “We’ll meet every quarter to institute policy-making, implement consistency and share ideas, support and strength. We want Maria House to be the best shelter it can be,” says Brown, “always keeping in mind our goal of the empowerment of women and children.”

“I am honored,” she says. “My religion, my church and my family are very important to me. My parents were an example of service to others. I’ve tried to live my life by Matthew 25 principles, and to follow in their footsteps.”

“But,” Brown adds, “our entire staff at Maria House should be getting this award. And it’s not just us, either. It’s the two little boys from Prescott school who raised $5.00 for Maria House; it’s the woman who gives us $35.00 each month when she can’t afford to; it’s all those who help in any way they can – a whole community of caring, wonderful people.”

On May 12, 2007, four young men graduated from Divine Word College: Hoa N. Nguyen, Paul Tien Minh Pham, Richard Anh Vu and Kaschka R. Watson. We congratulate our graduates and offer them our prayers and support.

Each of the graduates was asked about his future plans and his favorite memories of his years at DWC. Here are their responses:

“I plan to work at the Divine Word Residence in Techny, Ill., and begin my novitiate year on August 22, 2007.

“I look back at the many memories that I have…all those nights staying up late and studying can drive a college student —well, first hungry and then crazy—wishing there was a Taco Bell, open late, near the college. I believe this is the best memory that I have: running around the college looking for food and finding that I am not the only one looking for something to eat. Peanut butter, bread and noodles in the dining room at night…this brought me closer to my peers. Food comes and goes, but memories like this stay forever.”

“After much thought about my vocation, I came to the conclusion that I will not apply to the Novitiate this year…I feel that I am not fully ready. I will do more thinking and discernment, and I am looking forward to applying to the Novitiate next year.

“There are many special memories of my years at DWC…my favorites are celebrating holy events, praying at night with the club, eating Chinese food with friends, Vietnamese Student Association camping, doing ministry work and cooking for cultural events. I also enjoyed visiting FAN club families, and having instant noodles at midnight with my friends.”

Richard shared his feelings about DWC with a poem
at his graduation. Here is an excerpt:

God’s word, his spirit,
in quiet moments, does calm my fear
and bring me peace,
by all of these my blessings flow.
Tomorrow if rain and dark clouds come,
alone, afraid, or lost
I’ll still remember what came before and say to all
that I am blessed.

“I’ll be preparing myself for graduate studies, since I have received a full scholarship for my Masters’ in Education at York University in Toronto, Canada. I will continue to share and spread the Light of the Word which was passed on to me here at Divine Word College.

“My most memorable moment at DWC was walking through those clear glass doors at the front entrance and entering the dining room filled with young men from all around the world. Their warm welcome made me feel at home. I will miss them, but I know one day we will cross paths again.”

Measuring student achievement and assessing program effectiveness
engage faculty members and administrators at every college campus in the country. In recent years, parents, business leaders and elected officials have brought new pressure to bear on institutions of higher education, requiring them to demonstrate better their ability to achieve their education objectives. There is considerable debate over how best to measure and demonstrate success, as might be expected. Divine Word College has evaluated student achievement and gauged program effectiveness for many years. Teachers and administrators make program improvements based on their evaluation of student achievement and other feedback. A valuable source of such information is our Divine Word
College alumni.

This issue of DWC World features alumni committed to ministry and religious life, but not within the SVD. Their reflections provide an important perspective on our program effectiveness. They point us toward what is distinctive in our programs, toward the special contribution that our programs make to the life and ministry of the Church. They help us appreciate the rich texture of information available for making program assessments.

We promise to do our best to live up to our mission of preparing future priests, Brothers, Sisters, and other ministers to serve God’s people according to our SVD missionary charism. We thank you for your continuing prayers, friendship and support.