Vocation Stories
One way to learn more about the Vincentians would be to read a vocation story. Ask a Vincentian priest or Vincentian brother why he entered the Congregation of the Mission and you have a inviting story to hear.
- Fr. Nguyenl
- Bro. Ciardullo
- Fr. Holliday
- Fr. Hubbert
Father Michael Nguyen, CM
In the late 70's and throughout the 80's there was a new wave of immigrants coming to the United States from Vietnam. These people 
were referred to as "boat people," because they used boats trying to escape from the communist regime that took complete control of Viet Nam after the war in 1975. The boats they used to escape in often were small and not equipped for the sea. As a result, many of the people never reached land safely because of all the things that went wrong. Their boats broke down and they floated on the sea for days or weeks and died from lack of food and water. Pirates captured them, stealing everything they had, raping the women, and sometimes even killing them. Only the people who were lucky and did not have any misfortunes reached land safely.
To read more click here.
Brother Carmen Ciardullo CM
When I was 14 a desire to give myself to the Lord entered my 
mind. At first this desire occurred now and then. However, as time went by, it became more and more frequent. To me the desire was odd ... to give myself to the Lord ... but not as a priest. The only thing I knew were priests and sisters. I never heard of a brother. Never knew there were brothers who lived in community.
To read more click here.
Father John Hollicay, CM
I was born, raised and lived most of my life in Wilmington, Delaware. I attended my parish elementary school and graduated from 
Salesianum High School in 1976. I felt the stirrings of a vocation during my high school years and had contact with the diocesan vocation director in Wilmington, but did not further pursue a vocation. For a while, I attended University of Delaware. I also held a variety of jobs, including food service and multiplex theater management.
As I approached the age of forty, I began to reconsider my earlier desire to become a priest. After prayer and discussion, I was drawn toward a religious community that served the poor.
To read more click here.
Father Joseph Hubbert, CM
I prepared a draft of these reflections about a week ago with the intention of writing again "half as long." Then, last night (9/11) as the 
Niagara University community joined the country in dealing with the horrific violence of terrorism, I found myself talking with a student about the events of the day. Near the end of our conversation he asked me, in these or similar words, "Did you always know you wanted to be a priest?" Keeping in mind the ideas of my brief answer at that moment, and struck by the timelessness of it being 36 years today (9/12) that I took the first step of my vocation story at St. Joseph's College in Princeton, I share these thoughts.
To read more click here.
