Planting Seeds, Growing Shepherds
- Hau Vu
- 11 minutes ago
- 4 min read
How over 750 Vietnamese people showed up, from Florida to New York, to support the future priests of our Diocese.
Fr. Hau Vu | Vocations Director
Something amazing happened on the evening of April 10, 2026. The Diocese of San Bernardino Vocations Office held its very first Diocesan Vietnamese Fundraiser for vocations. We called it "Planting Seeds, Growing Shepherds," and let me just tell you, it was a night I will never forget.
Over 750 people came out. And not just from around our Diocese. People came from Florida, New York, Orange County, and Los Angeles. They came because they believe in what we're doing, raising up future priests for the Church. That kind of love? You can't make that up.
Our Bishop, Bishop Alberto Rojas, was right there with us. So was Msgr. Lopez, our Vicar General, along with our seminarians, the priests from Serra House of Formation, Vietnamese priests from across the Diocese, and other brother priests. Everyone showed up. It was a beautiful display of community and support for our seminarians and vocations.
Now let me tell you about the food. This wasn't your regular parish potluck. We're talking a wedding-style, seven-course meal. Yes, seven courses. And yes, that included lobster. When I tell you people's faces lit up, I mean it. One of our seminarians was even spotted carrying a giant plate of lobster to the table, and honestly, the joy on his face said it all.
Left: Seminarian Albert Salcido happily serving lobsters to the guests. Middle and Right: Seminarians and formation priests enjoying the seven-coursed dinner together.
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But the food was just the beginning. Professional Vietnamese singers came to entertain and help rally support for our seminarians. The performances were incredible, from powerful vocalists to high-energy showmanship that had the whole room buzzing.
Professional Vietnamese singers brought incredible energy and talent to the stage, while Bishop Rojas and Msgr. Lopez enjoyed the show from their table.
And then there was Joseph Hong An, one of our newest seminarians. A lot of people came specifically to see him. Why? Because before he entered seminary, Joseph was a well-known professional singer in the Catholic music world in Vietnam. When he took the stage and sang his Catholic songs, you could feel the entire room get quiet. It was powerful. It was prayerful. It was real.
But here's the moment that really got people. All of our seminarians went up on stage together and sang a Catholic song, in Vietnamese. Now, let me be clear: none of them speak Vietnamese. Not a word. Well, except Joseph. But they trained for weeks to learn this song. And when they sang it? The crowd went wild. People were moved. Some were in tears.
You see, that's what priesthood is all about. It's about being willing to go out of your comfort zone. It's about meeting people where they are. Our seminarians showed the Vietnamese community that they are willing to minister to them, to love them, to try for them. And the people felt it. That moment, that was the fruit of their willingness and their hearts.
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The live auction was another huge highlight. People opened their hearts, and their wallets, in a big way. The donations poured in for our seminarians, and the energy in the room during those moments was electric. Everyone wanted to be part of something bigger than themselves, and they showed it.
Bishop Rojas surprised everyone by picking up a guitar and taking the stage, a beautiful moment of joy and connection with the community.
Bishop Rojas even surprised us by getting on stage with a guitar. That moment, seeing our Bishop smiling, playing for the people, was pure joy. It showed everyone that our shepherd truly loves his flock.
Fr. Anthony and Fr. Timothy kept the energy flowing all evening, while special presentations honored the community's generous spirit.
Now, this event didn't just happen overnight. It's been in the making for a while. It all started at last year's convocation, when our Vietnamese priests from across the Diocese got together and said, "We want this." And Bishop Rojas said, "Yes." From there, it took the leadership of Fr. Timothy Do, Fr. Anthony Bui, and myself, Fr. Hau Vu, along with an incredible Vietnamese committee of lay people who gave up their time and poured their hearts into making this night happen.
I also have to give a huge thank-you to Fr. Trung Mai, SVD, pastor of St. George Parish, who was absolutely pivotal in all of this. He let us use his beautiful facility and parish hall, and he worked alongside us every step of the way to make the night wonderful.
Fr. Javier Gonzalez, the Rector of Serra House of Formation, told me after the event that he was so filled with joy seeing the Vietnamese community come together to show their love for the Church within the Diocese of San Bernardino. And honestly, that's exactly what it was, love, plain and simple.
The night ended with a standing ovation, for the Diocese, for Bishop Rojas, for the seminarians, and for the priests. People left with gratitude in their hearts, and I've already been hearing the whispers: "Will there be another one next year?"
Who knows? But all I do know is this: as Bishop Rojas' coat of arms says, "God's love is all you need." And so we leave it up to God to inspire.
All in all, it was the work of the Holy Spirit through the hands of God's loving people that made this event possible. And I am so, so grateful.
Fr. Hau Vu is the Director of Vocations and Director of Seminarians for the Diocese of San Bernardino. He is based at Serra House of Formation.
Diocese of San Bernardino • Planting Seeds, Growing Shepherds • April 10, 2026