Priest ordination: Rev. Larrydom JR. K. Magdasoc, Rev. Dawid Malik, Rev. Van Ai (Peter) Phan

 Rev. Larrydom JR. K. Magdasoc

Larrydom JR. K. Magdasoc first thought it would be good for him to pursue the “amazing calling” of the priesthood when he was in high school in his native Philippines, but his parents wanted him to wait to make such a big decision until after college.

So he earned a bachelor’s degree in information technology from De La Salle Lipa (University) in Lipa City, Philippines, in 2012, then worked as a web developer at a television network in Manila for a few months.

But he was unhappy and knew that was not what he wanted to do with his life. “I came back to my first calling, to the priesthood,” he said. “God was really calling me to this life.”

Now, “Father Larry,” 32, is a priest of the Diocese of Metuchen, ordained at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi in Metuchen by Bishop James F. Checchio on June 8.

The journey to ordination took him first to St. Francis de Sales Major Seminary in Lipa City, Philippines, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in classical philosophy in 2018. He was invited to participate in a monastic discernment program with the Trappists in Mepkin Abbey in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, where he met a priest of the Diocese or Metuchen. When he discerned that monastic life was not for him, the priest suggested he consider the New Jersey diocese.

Knowing that many priests from the Philippines come to the United States where vocations are not as plentiful, the seminarian applied and was accepted for service here. He earned a Master of Divinity degree in pastoral ministry this year from Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University in South Orange. As a transitional deacon, he served at St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Skillman, where he preached, trained altar servers and assisted with parish activities.

While in seminary, he found “brotherhood and camaraderie” with the four men who were ordained with him, of different backgrounds and ethnicities. “Being from different places binds us together,” he said, noting that they appreciate one another’s cultures and foods. (Father Magdasoc used to bring egg rolls called limpia and fried noodles called pancit to gatherings, and his friends enjoyed the food from his home country.)

“We will be missionary priests in that we were not born in this country, but we are here to help and to be part of the mission of priests here,” Father Magdasoc said.

When he arrives in his new parish, he would like to continue to train altar servers and participate in vocation ministry. “We need more priests and servants in the vineyard of God,” he said.

Father Magdasoc enjoys traveling, taking photos, visiting churches and other religious sites and spending quite time with the Lord and in meditation and silence.

“I am really, really thankful for what the diocese has given me and what God has done for me,” he concluded.

By Cori Urban, Contributing Editor

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Rev. Dawid Malik

Father Dawid Jan Malik was born in Bielsko-Biala, Poland, in 1985, one of seven children of Henryk and Bernadetta Malik. Desiring a life of service, he recalled, “I wanted to be a police officer or soldier but at one point of my life I realized that the most important fight in which I can be involved is fighting for human souls. I followed the examples of other good priests who were the real shepherds of their flocks.”

Father Malik attended the Pontifical University of John Paul, earning a master’s degree in theology. Before his seminary studies, he was employed in the fields of photography, storekeeping and as a cook in a fast-food restaurant.

The native Pole took a surprising route to his ordination, studying at two U.S.-based seminaries: Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Krakow/Orchard Lake, Mich., and Immaculate Conception at Seton Hall University, South Orange, where he earned a master’s degree in pastoral theology.

When asked for the reason he studied for the priesthood in America, Father Malik answered, “I had never thought about that, and I never was good at learning language, so if someone ten years ago would tell me that I will be fluent in English and will prepare for priestly ordination in the USA, I would just laugh at him, however God’s providence unfolded for me His path for me.”

During his formation, Father Malik served in the parishes of Immaculate Conception, Spotswood; St. Philip and St. James, Phillipsburg; Our Lady of Fatima, Piscataway, and Our Lady of the Mount, Warren. He includes literature, martial arts, music and hiking among his interests.

Father Malik most anticipates “the ability to bring the real presence of God in the Eucharist and possibility to reconcile man with God by the Sacrament of Reconciliation,” and would advise a young man discerning the priesthood to “just take the first step and allow God to unfold before you the next one.”

—­By Christina Leslie, Contributing Editor 

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Rev. Van Ai  (Peter) Phan

Little wonder Van Ai “Peter” Phan is one of the Diocese of Metuchen’s newest priests – he has been weighing a life of service in the Church since high school.

“When I was in college [Phu Xuan University in Vietnam], the call came back to me,” he remembered, “I paid more attention to it this time. I spent much time on prayer and any Catholic activity, especially vocation activities. At the end of my college year, I decided to join the seminary.”

Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in languages, he began to listen to a more visceral tongue: the language of piety and love of the Lord spoken by his parents, Van Phung Phan and Thi Mi Nguyen, and five siblings, especially his oldest brother, Van Dong, himself a priest. “They have nourished my priestly call, helped me learn how to live, and consider the call closely,” said Father Phan.

Born in 1995, Father Phan continued his studies in St. Vincent Seminary Latrobe, Pa., and graduated from Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University, South Orange. He served as a deacon in St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, Bridgewater.

Attending Holy Mass daily is crucial to Father Phan’s ministry; “If one day I did not go to Mass and receive the Eucharist,” he revealed, “I felt that day was boring and a terrible day to me.”

His advice to a man considering the priesthood is to listen.

“If you have a call for priestly vocation, keep praying and trust in God’s plan for you. The joy of priestly vocation cannot be measured. It is such a wonderful gift from the Heart of Christ. This gift is something that no one can give or take away, only God,” Father Phan said. “Being a priest of Christ means that one wins the favor of God, one wins the favor of others, and one wins the favor of himself. There is nothing else that can compare with this gift.”

The new priest offered advice to young men contemplating life as a priest: don’t regret the path not taken. “I am also a young man, I want to do many things. I want to be free. I want to enjoy life. Trust me, we can find this anywhere. However, finding meaning in one’s life and living for it are different,” said Father Phan.

“Being a warrior for Christ in the world today is the greatest thing to be. The love for God and others is a reason for this vocation. Of course, in the end of everything, love is forever. Therefore, why not allow yourself to hear the voice of God in this wonderful vocation?”

—­By Christina Leslie, Contributing Editor