On Friday, June 7th, 2024, we will witness the presbyteral ordination of two young priests, Michael My Van Tran and Bradley Davies, for the Archdiocese of Brisbane. This is a very special time for Michael, Bradley, their families, and the church.

The journey to the priesthood is challenging and it is not a journey that is commonly taken. Both Michael and Bradley have dedicated seven years to their formation, praying, reflecting, discerning, and deepening their relationship with God and His calling in their lives, with the unwavering support of their families.

We had the opportunity to speak with Michael and Bradley before their ordination, and they shared their excitement about serving as priests for the Catholic Church. So, please keep Michael and Bradley in your prayers, and we invite you to witness the presbyteral ordination ceremony on Friday, June 7th 2024, at 7pm, livestreamed from the Cathedral of St Stephen here.

Watch their journey to the Catholic Priesthood here:

• Journey to the Catholic Priesthood: Michael My Van Tran and Bradley Davies

  Journey to the Catholic Priesthood: Michael My Van Tran and Bradley Davies

  Author: Archdiocese of Brisbane

  
  It’s amazing how fast those six to seven years go. Thinking it was such a long way. But in the blink of an eye, just so much has happened, yet when you actually sit and you reflect, it’s amazing just how much growth you realise that you’ve been through.

  It’s feels amazing, very exciting to write the other chapter in my life. After this chapter in the seminary close, I’m going to write the other chapter with the people of God in different parishes. So very exciting. Yeah, I’m very lucky to grow up in really faithful family, which I can, I’m very proud to say that to everyone. And they always like supporting me even though they’re being far away from Vietnam. For example my grandma always saying a Rosary every day to pray for me. They keep saying to me, you become a good priest one day and then we very proud of you. So those kind you know sayings help me keep going, even though I say yes to come to Australia, but I can still feel they’re really close to my heart and always.

  Although no one else in my family is a practicing Catholic, I’ve always had their support with this journey as much as I’ve had with any journey. So my mum is the Catholic in the family. So that meant like a lot of children from families that have some sort of Catholic about them, I was baptised a Catholic, I went to a Catholic school myself and my younger brother. But, you know, once we then went through confirmation, communion, first reconciliation. We didn’t have much to do with the Church after that, as we do see a lot today. But for me, there was just something about the upbringing, something said to me, this is important. The day finally came where I finally found the courage to go back to my old church of St John the Baptist, Enoggera. But going back to church led me to going to World Youth Day Sydney 2008. But that was really where I met the Lord Jesus personally for the first time, I understood that personal connection with our God outside the walls of a church building on a Sunday. And that really led me to wanting to go deeper.

  When I turned seven the idea priesthood came to me when I was little boy to be an altar server. I actually fell in love with the vestment the priest wearing and I told myself, one day I need to become a priest to wear that vestment. And it look beautiful, and that’s the idea. That story I keep telling that story to everyone when they ask me about priesthood. So from that moment, the idea of priesthood just keep burning strong and stronger.

  My vocational journey to the priesthood was much longer than perhaps what some would be able to tell. It began when I was a young twenty-one year old. When I got an invitation to the Archbishop’s vocations dinner. So that really took me deeper into that calling and discerning it further. So after years of discernment, trying other things, like NET, like teaching. I eventually came to the point where I was in my classroom in 2016 one afternoon after school and just had this sense that this is, teaching wasn’t what I was going to do for the rest of my life. And that was the day where I felt at peace about taking the next step to applying for Holy Spirit Seminary.

  Not everyone goes to the Seminary to become a priest. But this is the place for you to discern your vocation. So don’t be afraid to give it a try if you feel the call from God. And God will make the way for you.

  I would say certainly be open. Intentional discernment and formation is vital.

  I never thought I’d be in Australia to be become a priest. But then, that’s God’s calling, I mean, I never thought and then in 2016 the Archbishop actually came to Vietnam. He came and visit my family. And I received a call from my Bishop back home, do you want to go to Australia? I said, yeah let me think and pray and think and answer you in a month. My family they also wanted me to just remain in Vietnam. But then I shared with them, I think I feel the call from God, you know. The word is “follow me”. That’s my motto, the word is “follow me” and then I said, I think I’ve just feeling that call really strong, I mean, if I want to serve the people of God I can serve in Australia or anywhere, not only in Vietnam. So I kind left everything in Vietnam, like left my families, friends and culture and came here, like start from the beginning. Even no English at all at that time. So the staff really supported to me. And I see them as my members in the family. They just want to challenge me so I can grow in this vocation journey.

  I certainly think my call has deepened since being in the Seminary. There have certainly been doubts and some of those doubts have been around still having that natural desire for married life and for children. Yet the more I’ve gone on through the Seminary, I’ve always felt the call to stay rather than go. I’ve felt the call that God wants to use the desires that I have in priestly ministry. In the way that I will interact with a bigger family, a bigger community.

  The big things I learn is getting to know people and the culture from different parishes. The big thing I learned from the people of God there they kind of like forming me or helping me to become a priest for the people of God.