Matthew White
I’ve always had a desire to know more about God and to love Him more. I tried serving God in all sorts of ways – as a high school teacher, in youth groups, as lay pastoral leader – but I always felt there was something more…
Matthew is from Te Ngākau Tapu Parish, Porirua. He was ordained a deacon in November 2023 and is currently serving at the Catholic Parish of the Wairarapa.
Kinh Nguyen
My cousin, a religious priest, asked me – ‘would you like to become a priest?’ I said no, because
I didn’t think I was intelligent or worthy enough… Now I know that it is not because I am worthy
that God calls me to priesthood, but because
of His great love for me.
Kinh is from Vietnam. He arrived in Wellington
in 2018 and started seminary formation in
February 2019. He was ordained a deacon
in September 2024 and will be serving at
Holy Trinity Parish in 2025.
Emilio Capin
Somehow, I felt there was an emptiness in me
that could not be filled by obtaining a degree
or finding a good job. I was involved in many ministries in my parish, but this too was
not enough….
Emilio is from the Philippines. He spent a year in Wellington South Parish and started his seminary formation in February 2020. He has just completed a pastoral year at Our Lady
of the Bays Parish in Tasman.
Gerson Badayos
One day I watched a video of Pope Francis about vocation. I cannot exactly recall what he said, but what I remembered was, “If you have that sense of the vocation, cultivate that, it’s actually God himself who puts that in your heart”. It struck me… After watching it, I started searching…
Gerson is from the Philippines. He spent a year
in Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish and started
his seminary formation in February 2021.
He will be on pastoral placement in Holy
Family Parish in Nelson in 2025.
Kham Nguyen
I feel blessed to have been born in a Catholic family, surrounded by the love of neighbors, with the Church in the middle of our village. After I finished university in Vietnam, in September 2022, I came to New Zealand to follow priesthood as a student of the Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington. Since then, I have been helped, supported and guided by priests and parishioners as I learned English and the New Zealand culture.
With your prayer and support, I hope to always walk in the way of Jesus.
Kham Nguyen comes from Vietnam.
He spent two years in Holy Trinity Parish,
and will be starting his seminary
formation in February 2025.
Dyester Abo-Abo
Before moving to New Zealand from the Philippines, I worked at a Jesuit university and taught Psychology for over 8 years. I grew up being actively involved in the parish, where I met wonderful priests and religious who inspired me to consider the vocation of priesthood. I love exploring new places and cultures, and am grateful to have this opportunity to explore priesthood as part of the Archdiocese of Wellington.
Dyester is from the Philippines.
He spent a year in Wellington South Parish,
and will start his seminary formation
in February 2025.