I was born and raised in a peaceful countryside in Thanh Hoa City, Vietnam. I grew up in a loving Catholic family, so my childhood was closely connected to the Church, family prayers, and parish activities.
When I was young, my biggest dream was actually… to become a saint! Maybe because every night before bedtime, my father loved telling me stories about the saints instead of fairy tales. Later, when I learned how to read, I became interested in reading the Bible and stories of the saints. Their lives inspired me to do something meaningful for the Church and for other people.
My heart has always been close to the poor, especially women and children. In this desire to serve, I found something very familiar in the spirit of Catherine McAuley, and I entered the Sisters of Mercy in the Philippines. Looking back now, I can truly say that God guided me through many distances, challenges, and surprises to live this vocation as a Sister of Mercy.
After my profession of temporary vows, I was assigned to serve at our congregation’s hospital in Iligan City, Philippines for almost two years. Currently, I am doing my ministry at St. John the Baptist School in Jimenez, Ozamis city, Philippines. Working with students every day gives me joy, energy, and sometimes… a little headache, too. But honestly, being with young people keeps my heart alive and grateful.
Of course, community life and ministry are not always easy. There are challenges along the way, but I usually find strength again through prayer. When I need to recharge, I enjoy running, yoga, listening to music, singing alone like I’m in a concert, or chatting with friends and family. I listen to many kinds of music, but my favorite will always be church songs and hymns.
I thank God for this beautiful journey of vocation, and I hope to continue serving with joy, mercy, and love — one small step, one prayer, and maybe one karaoke song at a time.