Vermont Catholic editor Holly Thayer caught up with Father Luan Van Tran to discuss his first year of priesthood ahead of his one-year anniversary of ordination to the priesthood on May 31, 2026. The following is the transcript of their conversation.

Thayer: Looking back on your first year since ordination, what moments stand out to you, and why?

Father Van Tran: I love everything about the priesthood. Looking back on my first year since ordination, the moments that stand out most are celebrating the sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation, Baptism, and the Anointing of the Sick. In these sacred moments, I have the profound privilege of being an instrument through which God’s love and mercy reach His people.

What strikes me most is not only what God does through me for others, but also what He does within me. In serving His people, I come to experience more deeply that I, too, am loved by God.

Thayer: What have been some of the greatest joys of your priesthood so far, especially moments that affirmed your vocation?

Father Van Tran: One of the greatest joys of my priesthood has been something very simple, yet profoundly meaningful: waking up each morning with the awareness that I will celebrate Holy Mass that day. There is a deep joy in knowing that each day is centered on the Eucharist.

At Mass, by the grace of the priesthood, I am able to act in persona Christi, in the person of Christ, making present the same sacrifice that Christ our Lord offered on the Cross two thousand years ago. That reality continues to fill me with awe and gratitude. It is in these moments that my vocation is most clearly affirmed: to stand at the altar, to serve God’s people, and to be entrusted with so great a mystery.

Thayer: On the other hand, what challenges or hardships have you encountered, and how have they shaped you?

Father Van Tran: One of the challenges I have encountered is becoming more aware, each day, of the deep needs of the people entrusted to my care, especially their spiritual needs. The more I am present in the parish, the more I see how much people are searching, struggling, and longing for God.

At times, this can be difficult, because I find myself wishing I could do more, give more, and reach everyone in the way they need. Yet this challenge has also shaped me in an important way: it has taught me humility and trust. It reminds me that I am not the Savior, Christ is. I am simply His instrument.

This awareness continues to draw me closer to prayer, asking the Lord to work through me and to care for His people beyond what I can do on my own.

Thayer: Before ordination, you likely had certain expectations of priestly life. In what ways has the reality been different, either more beautiful or more difficult, than you imagined?

Father Van Tran: Before ordination, I had many expectations about priestly life, but some of the most meaningful realities were things I could never have fully imagined or been taught in the seminary.

For example, no one really teaches you how to get up at 2:00 a.m. to go to the hospital for an anointing. That happened during the very first week of my priesthood. To be honest, on the way to the hospital, I was not very happy. It felt difficult and exhausting.

But everything changed the moment I walked into the emergency room. There, I encountered a man who was dying and his wife who was in tears. I invited her to pray with me as I anointed her husband. In that moment, the situation was no longer about my tiredness, it became about Christ being present to them in their greatest need.

He passed away peacefully that morning. The following weekend, his wife came back to church after being away for a long time. She thanked me and shared that through that experience, she was able to recognize the presence of Christ again.

That moment revealed to me how priesthood is both more demanding and more beautiful than I had imagined. It stretches you beyond your comfort, but it also allows you to witness God’s grace in the most profound and unexpected ways.

Thayer: How has your relationship with Christ deepened or changed over this past year?

Father Van Tran: Over this past year, my relationship with Christ has deepened in a very simple but profound way: I have come to realize more clearly that without Him, I can do nothing.

In the daily life of the priesthood, with its joys, demands, and unexpected moments, I have learned how much I truly need Him. Not just in theory, but in reality. I depend on His grace in everything I do.

At the same time, I have also grown in trust, recognizing that He is the one in control. This has brought me a deeper sense of peace. I do my best to serve, but ultimately, it is Christ who leads, guides, and accomplishes His work.

Thayer: What has surprised you most about parish life or ministry that you didn’t fully anticipate in seminary?

Father Van Tran: What has surprised me most about parish life is how much of the ministry is about simply being present and available to people, often in ways I did not fully anticipate in seminary.

As I mentioned before, no one really teaches you how to get up at 2:00 a.m. to go to the hospital to anoint someone, but the reality of ministry does. These unexpected calls, especially in difficult moments, have become a real and humbling part of priestly life.

I have come to see that being a priest is not only about what I do, but about being there for people, walking with them in their joys, their struggles, and especially in their moments of need. That availability, even when it is inconvenient or challenging, is where Christ often works most powerfully.

Thayer: How do you care for your own spiritual and personal well-being amid the demands of priestly life?

Father Van Tran: Caring for my spiritual and personal well-being is essential, because I know that without it, I cannot faithfully serve others.

First of all, prayer is truly the food for my ministry. My daily commitment to the Liturgy of the Hours and a Holy Hour, and Marian devotions keeps me rooted in Christ. These moments of prayer are not just obligations, they are the source of strength, guidance, and renewal for everything I do.

At the same time, I also try to take care of myself in practical ways: eating healthy, exercising, and getting enough rest. These simple habits help me remain balanced and available for the demands of priestly life, so that I can continue to serve with both energy and joy.

Thayer: What role has community, whether brother priest or parish, played in supporting you this year?

Father Van Tran: Community has played a tremendous role in supporting me throughout this past year.

I feel deeply loved by the people in my parishes. They pray for me every day, and they show their care in simple but meaningful ways, even something like giving me a maple creemee because they know I enjoy it. These gestures remind me that I am not alone, and they strengthen me in my ministry.

I am also very blessed to have strong support from my brother priests in the diocese and from my classmates. I often spend my day off with other priests, we pray together, cook, and share meals. That fraternity has been a great source of encouragement, helping me to stay grounded, joyful, and faithful in my vocation.

Thayer: What advice would you give to a man discerning the priesthood or a current seminarian?

Father Van Tran: My advice to a man discerning the priesthood or to a seminarian would be this: give God a chance.

Allow Him to work through you, to love you, and to transform you into His instrument. You do not have to be perfect or have everything figured out. What matters is your openness and willingness to let God lead.

If you truly give Him that space, you will discover that He can do far more in and through you than you could ever imagine on your own.

Thayer: As you look ahead, what hopes or intentions are you carrying into your second year of priesthood?

Father Van Tran: As I look ahead to my second year of priesthood, my simple hope and intention is to continue to love and to be loved.

To love God more deeply in my daily priestly life, to love the people entrusted to me with greater patience and generosity, and to grow in self-giving service. At the same time, I want to remain open to receiving love, from God, from the Church, and from the people I serve, so that I may continue to be strengthened and renewed in my vocation.