Three priests to be ordained welcome ‘gift’ of the priesthood, find peace in life of service

It has been a 7- to 8-year journey respectively within the seminary for Deacons Carlos Velero Mendoza, Hubert Hai Đào and John Clark, who will be ordained priests for the Archdiocese by Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 7, at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston.

Deacon Velero, 30, thought holy matrimony was the vocation for himself. Still, during college, he explored the idea of discerning the priesthood when he switched majors and schools, going from a math major at the University of Houston to a theology student at the University of St. Thomas.

“I recognized if I say that I trust the Lord — if I say that I love Him — then I trust what His plan for my life is,” Deacon Velero said.

He eventually entered the seminary to seriously discern the possibility of becoming a priest. It was during his second semester that he found unity of his will with God’s will, realizing that when he responded to the call to the priesthood with full trust in the Lord, he was the happiest.

Deacon Đào, 34, grew up in Vietnam as an active member of the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement. He experienced a call to the priesthood at age 13 and revisited this potential calling in his late 20s.  
Immigrating with his family to the U.S. at 19 years old created a shift in culture and responsibility for him, and he pursued a career as a dental assistant. Not finding satisfaction in his profession, he brought his concerns to God during Adoration at his home parish one evening.

“I was struck a lot in my heart. For some reason, I cried a lot, too. It was a good cry because I realized it was a time that God wanted me to come back to my original dream as a child to become a priest,” Deacon Đào said about Adoration that night.

Soon, he applied for the seminary, and it was a joyful occasion the day he was accepted by the Archdiocese.

Deacon Clark, 28, had thought about the priesthood as a youth but did not feel worthy that God could use him for His kingdom. Studying rhetoric and writing as a senior at the University of Texas, Deacon Clark attended Mass for the holy day of obligation on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, and upon analyzing the visiting priest’s less than inspiring homily, he had an epiphany.

“When we got to the consecration, it really hit me very strongly that this priest was here for me, even in my judgment, even in my weakness. He probably knew that he wasn’t the best preacher in the world. He probably, in fact, knew all of his weaknesses very well, and yet he was still here for me to bring the Lord to me and everyone else around me,” Deacon Clark said.

He then understood the Lord could work with his weaknesses and faults and still call him into service and mission. That moment gave Deacon Clark the clarity and confidence he needed. After Mass, he shared with his friends that he was going to apply for the seminary, to which they celebrated with his choice of a fried chicken dinner. 

It has been a process of learning to balance their studies, prayer life, diaconate responsibilities and personal lives throughout their years of formation, and the deacons credit the seminary staff, fellow seminarians, family, friends and the body of Christ for supporting them along the way. 

“Some of the key spiritual figures of my life were my grandmothers,” Deacon Velero said about the impact of his family, especially on the maternal side, with a great-uncle and a great-great-uncle who were Franciscan priests.

“She was always devoted to the Church, to prayer, and to serving others. She would always talk about the faith to myself and my siblings,” Deacon Velero said of his maternal grandmother. Although he didn’t personally know the priests in his family, the reality of that family lineage created a love of the faith within his family and himself.

Deacon Clark recalled the blessing from his father, who passed away from ALS, and the gradual change in perspective from his mother, who is now his biggest supporter, as individuals who made the most profound impact on his path to the priesthood. He also mentioned Matt Regitz, former youth minister at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, who taught him about the importance of growing in love of God and love of holiness first, and then everything else would follow.

“Throughout my childhood, my mom probably placed a lot of the spiritual life in me; that’s how I became a man of prayer,” Deacon Đào said. “Growing up, we had to go to Mass daily in Vietnam with them, no matter what.”

Forming the habit of prayer through daily Mass attendance, and Deacon Đào’s involvement with the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement, fostered his deep love for the Eucharist.

The deacons expressed excitement about their upcoming priestly ordinations, explaining that the seminary has allowed them to become the best versions of themselves.

“The priesthood is not a job. It’s a gift of being, being with the people,” Deacon Đào said. “Being with any gift that God actually gave you, and now is the time for you to use it for the other people around you.” 

The June 7 Priest Ordination Mass will be livestreamed on social media and online at www.archgh.org/live.