Rooted in Home, Sent to the World
How returning home deepens the call to missionary life
Answering the call to missionary life in the Catholic Church and serving God’s people around the world is deeply appealing to many who discern this vocation. Yet the call also asks for sacrifice, including time away from family and one’s home country.
The formation process for Divine Word Missionary priests and brothers typically lasts eight to thirteen years, depending on previous education. By the time formation is complete, it is common for several years to have passed since a man has last returned to his home country.
That was the case for two priests who recently shared their experiences of finally returning home—this time as ordained members of the Society of the Divine Word.
Fr. Tin Vu, SVD, spent eight years in formation in the United States. Born in Vietnam, he says he deeply missed his family during that time, but also recognizes how transformative the experience was. “The formation in the U.S. helped me to be confident and trust in the guidance of God whatever happens,” he said. “If I trust in God and be true to myself, God will lead me to the right way.”
Fr. Tin was ordained in May 2025. His father traveled from Vietnam to celebrate the milestone with him, though his mother was unable to make the trip. Just a few months later, Fr. Tin returned home and surprised his parents with a visit. As expected, his family was overjoyed to welcome him back.
During his visit, a Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated at his home parish in his honor. Fr. Tin was involved in every aspect of the celebration, from creating the guest list to designing the invitation. Friends, family, and members of the parish community filled the church to celebrate one of their own completing his formation. Following the Mass, Fr. Tin spent time visiting friends and his Godfather and assisted with parish liturgies by preparing homilies and reflections
“The visit brought me encouragement to keep moving on with my vocation as a priest,” Fr. Tin said. “It is like you went away for a while to a desert when there are lots of difficulties. Then you come back to the running stream where you recover for the next longer trip.”
Today, Fr. Tin is assigned to a communications ministry in California, where he serves at WordNet Productions, an SVD television ministry.
Fr. Fransiskus Santoso, SVD, also completed his religious formation in the United States. Before beginning his Overseas Training Program in Paraguay, he was grateful for the opportunity to return to Indonesia and spend time with his parents.
“That visit was meaningful because it allowed me to reconnect with my family and receive their support and encouragement before beginning a new chapter of my mission,” he said.
Following his priestly ordination in 2021, Fr. Fransiskus was again able to visit home. By then, three years had passed since his previous visit. As he prepared for his home leave, he recalls a deep sense of excitement and joy, having missed his parents and siblings greatly.
Reflecting on his formation abroad, Fr. Fransiskus now sees it as practical preparation for missionary service. The time spent far from home also deepened his understanding of the importance of family relationships.
“At the same time, I was also aware that living far from family is part of the missionary life I freely chose,” he said. “While it can be challenging, I have come to accept this sacrifice.”
Today, Fr. Fransiskus serves as Parochial Vicar at All Souls Catholic Parish in San Francisco, California. He says each visit home deepens his sense of vocation and reminds him of who he is at his core.
“Even though I am now a U.S. citizen, returning to Indonesia helps me reconnect with my roots as a Chinese Indonesian. It brings back memories of my upbringing, culture, and the faith traditions that shaped me,” he said. “These visits ground me and strengthen my identity, reminding me that my vocation is closely connected to my history, my family, and the people who formed me into the person and priest I am today.”
Still, the missionary experience is not one of loneliness or isolation. Rather, it offers an opportunity to expand one’s understanding of family and to form deep bonds across cultures and communities.
“Through my ministry, I have been blessed with another kind of family—the parishioners and communities who have welcomed me and walked with me in faith,” Fr. Fransiskus said.
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