The Journey

Step back in time to trace the steps in Paul's journey through religious and priestly formation as an Oblate of the Virgin Mary!

Paul first met the Oblates in 2003, at the parish retreat focused on the devotion to the Divine Mercy at St. Peter Chanel. Later that summer, in the course of learning about Total Consecration to Mary and Ignatian Prayer, he began to sense the call to priesthood and religious life.

This call was nurtured in spiritual direction by keeping in touch with the Oblates through his high school and university years.

Paul entered the Oblates on August 23, 2010 after seven years of ongoing vocational discernment through high school and university, both in Long Beach. Here, he is pictured with Bishop Salazar in the summer of 2011.

After completing three years of postulancy, during which Paul studied philosophy and some theology, he entered the novitiate on August 12, 2013. The year included a two-month experience of Oblate roots in Italy and the 30-day retreat according to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Brother Paul professed his first religious vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience with his brother novice Rafael on August 5, 2014.

After a pastoral year at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice, Florida from August 2016 to July 2017, Paul returned to Boston for his final academic year.

Paul professed his perpetual vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience as an Oblate of the Virgin Mary on February 9, 2018 and was ordained a deacon on February 10, 2018.

Paul completed the course of studies in theology in May 2018 with the Master of Arts thesis entitled, The Essential Grace of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola: The Grace of the Second Week, in Location, Dynamics, and Content.

Upon ordination, Father Paul Nguyen, OMV is assigned to St. Mary's Church (Immaculate Conception) in Alton, IL, where a strong OMV presence has been maintained since 1987.

The following 2017 TV interview includes Paul's vocation story and an introduction to the Oblates and our founder, Venerable Bruno Lanteri.