Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Pastor Enrique Sera bans priest for personal differences

To whom it may concern:


Due to personal differences between the Pastor of St. Joachim (Costa Mesa) and his associate priest, Parochial Vicar, Rev. Nguyen was banned from celebrating mass by the Pastor, Rev. Enrique Sera on the eve of Palm Sunday due to personal differences. Without due process, Bishop Tod Brown again automatically sided with the Pastors.


On Good Shepherd Sunday at St. Joachim Parish in Costa Mesa at the end of the 10 O’Clock Mass, Fr. Michael Nguyen courageously went up the sanctuary area to ask permission from the celebrating Pastor Rev. Enrique Sera for permission to talk to the people to clarify rumors of his termination and to bid farewell to the parishioners. Rev. Sera quickly avoided and passed Fr. Nguyen to process and exit the church.


Monday at around 3PM, how will Bishop Brown crucify Fr. Michael Nguyen?


Concerned Catholic.



Bishop Tod Brown

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

Has Rev. Nguyen gone to see the psychiatrist that the Bishop chose for him? I hope so, because after reading his strangely long "poor me" letter I agree he does sound nuts. Rev. Nguyen "suffered" along with Christ during Holy Week and then it is mentioned that he will be "crucified by the Bishop"...does Rev. Nguyen think he is Jesus? If so, he shouldn't have borrowed money to make his Orange County rectory "livable". Some staw in a stable was good enough for Jesus Christ our Savior to lay in. Since Rev. Nguyen says he believes God has a plan for everyone, perhaps he should look at the pattern he laid out. He states he has had problems with every pastor he has had in his few short years as a priest. Maybe God is trying to show him something, Rev. Nguyen seems to be the one with the problem, yet he wants to look like a victim and blame everyone else. Is that how a priest is supposed to behave? I don't think so!

Anonymous said...

Priests should be genuine witnesses to Christ and his Gospel. During the consecration Jesus Christ is truly present “in persona Cristi” in our Priests. Therefore, priests are deserving of our love and gratitude, much the same way as when we thank Jesus Christ.

The first complaint by Fr. Sera is that Fr. Nguyen was complaining about reimbursement for meals. Unfortunately, instead of giving food to his associate priest, Fr. Enrique Sera and Bishop Tod Brown ban Fr. Nguyen from celebrating Mass and order him to seek Psychiatric help.

Have we forgotten that Priests are human beings and that they need food to sustain life? Shouldn’t priests deserve the dignity of staying in a “livable” place and comfortable quarters to prepare themselves to feed God’s people?

Fr. Nguyen nourished me with the Word God in his Homilies, visited me at the hospital when I was sick and really gave me food when I was hungry.

Yesterday’s readings remind us of the new commandment “to love one another” (John 13). We pray for healing and renewal in the Church so that “Behold, I make all things new.” (Revelation 21) will soon come true.

Anonymous said...

Hang in there Fr.Michael! We love you and we need a priest like you. May God be with you and Mother Mary keep you on this difficult time. Someting good is going to come out of this.You are doing the right thing. Our prayers are with you!

Anonymous said...

My anonymous friend, you do have a point. Naturally with a common mind one would agree that Rev. Ngyuen does sound nuts. We can’t really say much with such little information that we have, let alone to condemn or judge who is nuts. Let’s put things into perspective. An altar server was sexually abused by a pastor, he was hurt but moved to another parish to continue serving as an altar server. At the new parish he was also abused by the pastor, he than moved again and again abused by the third pastor. This little boy, unlike every common altar server (who are afraid to say anything), finally speaks up to tell the truth. Does it mean that there is something wrong with this little boy because he had been sexually abused by all three pastors? Because he was abused by all three pastors he served, can we really say it is the little boy who is completely at fault?

We all know that corruption is everywhere, including in our “One” “Holy” and “Catholic” “Church”. Usually no one (especially a good Catholic) would take the time to speak up about it for fear that it would cause another scandal. I must agree that Rev. Ngyuen does have courage to speak out about corruption in the Church, especially what happened at St. Joachim Parish. I must say that I thank Rev. Ngyuen for honestly speaking up for himself and for giving us parishioners a chance to know and to understand. Because there is always two sides of every story, but his side is more believable. Rev. Sera only speaks to those of position/high income. But if a person with less of a position would like to seek advice other than the confessional, he hesitates to help and/or simply carry a conversation, shines away.

My friend, words are cheap, certainly much cheaper than actions. On that notes, are you a Catholic? Would you give up everything that you have to go and serve as a Catholic priest? Would some straw in a stable be good enough for you to sleep on? Perhaps you would and for every day, but would you continue to take all kinds of abuses from those suppose to be “holy” superior priests, being pushed around and telling you what to do in the name of God? Perhaps Rev. Ngyuen is not the Jesus we want him to be, but is Rev. Sera the Jesus that he preaches to the people. Who are we? Are we Jesus, who is willing to speak out for justice and willing to die for all? Are we Judas, who, after breaking break with him at every meal and still betrayed him? Are we the High Priest, who was so jealous and full of hate that we must put Jesus to death? Are we Peter, who denied Jesus and did not speak the truth at the questioned time? Who are we and what roles are playing now? Do we have the right to say who is Jesus who is not and who is nuts?

If you care so much why did you bother to respond as an anonymous? Of course and naturally when one is really ashamed of his/her own words and actions one would choose to remain anonymous. I usually do not respond to anonymous; but in your case I must put my two cents out for the public to understand. Thanks for sharing anyway.

A believer in a more just and loving church,

James B.

Anonymous said...

I am very saddened this very unfortunate situation is playing out in this way. I have been a parishioner of St. Joachim for over 15 years. I feel the need to respond to much of what I have read here and observed personally.

One response refers to a common mind thinking Fr. Michael is nuts. As members of this parish, we trust in the decisions and perspective that the uncommon minds of our church leaders have. I trust that our leaders, Bishop Brown and Fr. Sera, have more information than us common folk about this situation. I believe they are attempting to protect our parish from division and strife.

I find it a very strange comparison to compare Fr. Michael's difficulites at parishes to sexual abuse of alter boys. What a shame that person is choosing to focus on one of the saddest, darkest areas of the Catholic church to make their point. A child being abused by an adult (clergy or not) is of course never the child's fault. Fr. Michael is not a child. He is not in a child/adult situation. He is in a work situation, a living situation, much like employee/employer or room mates, or even adults within a family co-habitating. In any adult union there will be differences and difficulties to overcome. Just as we that are married have to push through the ebbs and flows within our marriage or with our adult sibling relationships or with our employers. There are constructive ways to deal with these crisis as they arise and there are some not so constructive ways to deal with them. If I knocked door to door in my neighborhood, or stood on the alter at the end of church to tell everyone about my husband's and my latest difficulty in our marriage, how do you think people would respond? My neighbors would politely close their doors, not want to get involved and pity me for trying such an ineffective way of handling what should be a problem solving session between my husband and myself. If I stood at the end of mass and tried the same thing, people might wonder why I am airing my personal problems in God's house, even though I am a member of the church.

I am not saying that Fr. Michael should not attempt to problem solve or have convictions worth defending. But how wise was it that he choose to do this just moments after our innocent little children had just received their First Holy Communion? On what should have been their most holy and joyful day, they stood confused, listening to a leader of the church complaining about money and interpersonal problems. I am very sad and disappointed that very inappropriate event will forever be etched in those innocent little minds when they think of the day they first received the Body of Christ. It was very selfish of Fr. Michael and is one example of how he has harmed this community.

To say Fr. Sera only speaks to the wealthy is completely false! Much later in the day, on the same day as Fr. Michael's unwelcomed speech, I returned to church to drop a friend off at her car. There were no masses being said and no people around except one, a homeless man sitting on the brick wall outside of church. Just as we approached, Fr. Sera exited the church and immediately greeted the homeless man. I myself have tried to say hello to this man and he never responds, he seems to be in his own world. But on this day he lifted his head and had a brief, polite conversation with Fr. Sera. I am sure this man felt the sincere compassion and respect our pastor was showing him and he was able to trust and respond to Fr. Sera. Fr. Sera is definitley one of the most humble and Christ-like men I have ever known. He is not impressed or controlled by those with wealth. Instead he serves those much less fortunate with genuine love and compassion.

I donated money to the reconstruction project at St. Joachim only 2 or 3 years ago. Part of that project was a complete remodel of the Priest's living quarters. I take offense that Fr. Michael found his living quarters unfit or unworthy of him. This is a community of many hard working families trying to make ends meet. It is a sacrifice to put extra money into a building project and it is like a slap in the face to hear Fr. Michael say it just wasn't good enough.

How is Fr. Michael "laying down his life for us"? It was mentioned by him at least once and maybe twice. I don't understand. All I see him do is complain about money, complain his name in lights in front of church wasn't good enough and complain the home this parish helped to provide for him isn't good enough.

We wish you well Fr. Michael. We hope you find a happy parish or a happy path in your life. Please live and learn. Think of or learn better ways of handling situations like this. Sometimes beating people over the head with your plight will not get the results you want. I will pray that God gives you peace and wisdom. Please leave St. Joachim in your past and move on. We want to live as a productive, supportive and healthy church community. What you are doing is only destructive.

Anonymous said...

Whatever may have happened I am not able to comment on. However, in Fr. Michael's defense one has the right to have their nae spelled correctly and given that courtesy of the respect of his culture and traditions.

Anonymous said...

I agree everyone would like to have their name spelled correctly. But mistakes are made and life's not perfect. Fr. Michael seemed to think it was all a part of some conspiracy against him. Aren't there more important things in life to get upset about?

Anonymous said...

Names are very important in many traditional cultures. Do mispell a name and then not rectify it is a huge mark of disrespect. If in little things we cannot be respected we cannot expect to be respected in the large things.

Anonymous said...

I completely understand that names are very important, especially in certain cultures. So this is a respect issue? Because in Fr. Michael's letter he stated Fr. Sera was already "plotting to get rid of me" because of the mis-spelling of his name. If he felt it showed no respect then maybe that is what he should have said. Instead he twisted it to make it sound like Fr. Sera is plotting and conspiring against him. All of this sounds like it could have been better handled in a calm, personal way instead of standing in front of the congregation trying to make them believe there is abuse going on. There are too many people in this world suffering real abuse and neglect that have no way out. A grown man should handle his personal differences and work related challenges in a patient, calm, wise and mature way.

Anonymous said...

Again I cannot comment on the legitimacy of either Fr. Michael's actions or his pastors. I simply make the point that names need to be respected.

Anonymous said...

Dear "a disappointed St. Joachim Parishioner",

You seem to know where the funding goes in regards to your donations. In the 15 years you have been a parishioner shouldn’t the Sunday collection be published regularly to all parishioners and not just yourself?

If Fr. Sera’s and Fr. Michael’s relationship is employer/employee, then shouldn't Fr. Sera be paying overtime, other employee benefits and severance pay to Fr. Michael? What about Fr. Michael's rights to workmen's comp by sending him to a Psychiatrist. Why is Fr. Sera not paying Fr. Michael for his meals? What other benefits owed to Fr. Michael is Fr. Sera withholding?

How often do you avoid sharing meals and prayerful companionship with your family? As often as Fr. Sera avoids Fr. Michael for meals and Mass con-celebrations? Have you asked Fr. Sera what kind of relationship he has with his associate priests?

Some expect a good priest to be a dead priest, but we do not wish our priests at St. Pius to be so. We love our pastor and his associate priests at St. Pius V and they deserve our utmost respect and service for giving up their life for us because they believe what they read, they preach what they believe, and they practice what they preach.

Our priests do not complain because we do not maltreat them. Wake up "disappointed St. Joachim Parishioner" most priests do give their lives for us. John 10:15 "... I give up my life for my sheep".

Remember Fr. Enrique Sera's speech at the December 5 Priestly Convocation Meeting - many priests who worked with him or under him have left the priesthood except for ONE. Your next priest will most likely be Hispanic; even so, will you be disappointed and mistreat too?

Lucky Pius V Parishioner.

Anonymous said...

I do have the utmost respect for the priests that give up their life to serve the church. I have been Catholic my entire life and have seen my share of priests. There have definitely been some that impacted my life in a special way. The characteristics they all seemed to have in common were: humility, true and genuine compassion for those in need, devotion to serving the people of God and an inner calm and peace. Humility is not to say they live with nothing, but they have a healthy perspective on what is really important on this earth. Having inner calm does not mean being a "dead priest". Instead they are able to maintain a sense of calm even among chaos.

I believe many of us were hopeful when Fr. Michael first arrived at St. Joachim. He is a young, energetic man that seemed excited to be with us. Unfortunatley, he seems to lack humility, he seems more concerned with himself then those in need and he clearly lacks an inner calm and peace.

It is clear that leaving "a promising career" to become a priest was a drastic change for him. Sadly what is important to him is:

*Overtime
*Employee benefits
*Severance pay
*Workmans comp
*Expense account for meals
*"Other benefits"

This sounds like corporate negotiations instead of a priest being sad or mistreated. I have never known that priests become priests to get rich and have great benefits! Fr. Michael may have convinced himself that he stands up against injustice in the church, but he hasn't convinced me. All he has convinced me of is he is very self absorbed, self serving, and way off base on what makes a great priest.

What has Fr. Michael been doing since he left St. Joachim? He is still a priest, just one without a parish. Is he trusting that his life is in God's hands? Is he letting go and letting God take care of things for him? Is he devoted to serving the people of God even though he may not have a parish? I would hope he is devoting himself to service by seeking out those with problems bigger than his own. Perhaps he is volunteering his time at a soup kitchen to feed the homeless. Or perhaps he has chosen some other worthy cause to fill his need to "lay down his life" and serve those less fortunate. Unfortunately, I suspect he sits perched at his computer wanting to fight, needing to be right and consuming himself with monitary goals.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Orange County Catholic said...

Dear SJP:
Your duplicate comments above were deleted. These were added
May 11, 2007 8:47 AM
May 11, 2007 8:50 AM
May 11, 2007 8:52 AM
May 11, 2007 8:54 AM
Administrator.

Anonymous said...

Whatever happened between these two priests we may never know. However, there is much mistreatment between Pastors and Parochial Vicars, more than people realize. In 2007, Pastors should be expected to lead with a Christ-like example, regardless of how their PV is acting, etc. Shame on both priests for their behavior.

Anonymous said...

Rev. Nguyen’s farewell letter is rightful. He has every right as a human being to speak what his conviction dictates; especially if it concerns corruption in the church.

Rev. Sera owes an explanation for withholding rightful meal reimbursements for several months. In a civil lawsuit he would face numerous charges including libel, slander and medical malpractice.

Anonymous said...

Question: Why do Fr. Sera’s followers at St. Joachim Parish write with ruthlessness and vindictiveness?

Answer: In the beginning, they were blinded by their church leader's psychological brainwashing. Now that their larceny is being exposed, they have uncontrolled emotions of fear for losing their illicit “business” because they have been discovered. They hate those who speak out against them.

Moral: All mothers, be forewarned to know more about your pastors, their collaborators and cronies before sending your children to serve them. Some are known to be abusers and some are yet to be discovered.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Anonymous said...

Hang in there Michael,

"Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.

But beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues,

and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.

When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say.

For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.

You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.



Matthew 10:16-22

Anonymous said...

Is Father Michael really a sheep among wolves?

The only one speaking of court is Fr. Michael. He is the one speaking of civil lawsuits against Fr. Sera for slander, libel and medical malpractice.

Who was the one scourging in the synagogue? That too would be Fr. Michael. He stood before our second graders and the rest of the congregation, as well as Fr. Sera, and read his version of the summary of events. Fr. Sera said nothing. Fr. Michael, do you really think it was the Spirit of Our Father speaking through you on that day?

Is it the Spirit of Our Father that wants you to focus on overtime, employee benefits, severance pay, workmans comp, expense accounts for meals and other benefits?

No one hates you because of your belief in God. I am disgusted in you though, because you are using God for your own earthly, money driven goals. As I asked a few days ago, what are you doing with your time away? Are you doing the Lord's work by helping those less fortunate than yourself? Or are you consuming your time with attacking our church for your own benefit?

As far as your Mother's Day warning yesterday. Don't think your bizaare words will ever make us doubt our trust and belief in Fr. Sera's Christ-like way in which he conducts himself. I would trust my child with him completely. After reading your strange thinking I would never allow my child around YOU!

Anonymous said...

Dear disgusted St. Joachim Parishioner,

I too am a Parishioner at St. Joachim and am worried that you fall into grave sin and lose your baptismal grace because of your heavy heart towards a priest of Jesus Christ. Before you continue to falsely accuse him blindly (signed sjp), please seek advice from a priest or talk to Fr. Michael Nguyen. You should be able to contact him through the office or thru Fr. Sera. Please seek advice and receive the Sacraments of penance and reconciliation before receiving communion.

Fellow parishioner.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Father, I will go to confession.

Anonymous said...

Rev. Micheal,

"You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye" (Matt 7:5).


Stop condeming! Recognize your faults and change.

You can fool us, but you can't fool God.

all4christ

Anonymous said...

Of course, Fr. Michael Nguyen needs a lots of money to pay off his $600,000 house, $60,000 car, $10,000 plasma TV and all his luxurious expenses . . .

What kind of a priest is that? Did he choose a wrong occupation?

Remember, "you are called to serve but not to be served".

"If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Lk 9:23).

Did Fr. Michael deny himself to follow Christ? or has he been using the church to build his own palace or kingdom?

Almighty Father, please forgives him for he doesn't know what he does.

Amen

Anonymous said...

Fidel Castro formally gave up power at the end of July 2006 and now resides in Costa Mesa, California. He has assumed a new identity as Padre Enrique Sera.

Another priest disappears as headlined in Sunday’s bulletin as published by El Jefe Enrique Sera
FR. MICHAEL NGUYEN IS NO LONGER PAROCHIAL VICAR.

Communist countries are run by corrupt dictators. St. Joachim Parish has turned into a safe haven and breeding ground for a most brutal and wicked dictator from Cuba by the name of Rev. Enrique Sera. Anyone who questions the dictator is made to quietly disappear.

Anonymous said...

Be careful with your donations and sponsorships at Rev. Sera's Spring Fair Fiesta May 19 and 20. No one knows where the contributions go!!!

Rev. Sera's educational background mixes theology and psychology and he volunteers his time at Catholic Charities as a counselor.

First Fr. Sera will eyeball you. If he can run away with your money then he'll bless you If you complain about him stealing then he'll make you disappear and call you a psycho

Anonymous said...

Hey Mixed Pockets,

You have your pockets mixed up! The spring fair at St. Joachim is a SCHOOL fundraiser, not a church fundraiser!!

Once again, silly accusations from someone that just doesn't know what they are talking about.

Orange County Catholic said...

Dear Father Sera,

“El Padre Michael Nguyen ya no es vicario en San Joaquín” or the English translation: “Father Michael Nguyen is no longer our parochial vicar” is not acceptable and merely increases rumors about your abuse of your associate priests. Below are questions raised by parishioners that need to be clarified, so as to dispel rumors about the priesthood.

1. Were you authorized to ban Fr. Michael from celebrating mass at St. Joachim?

2. Is it true that you limited and withheld meal reimbursements to Fr. Michael?

3. Why don't you regularly publish Sunday Collection in the bulletin?

4. Why haven't you concelebrated Mass with Fr. Michael?

5. Is it true that priests who worked for you have left the priesthood?

6. What is the name of the one priest under you who did not leave the priesthood?

7. Why do you consider Fr. Michael Nguyen as an enemy?

You have the right to answer the accusations against you. Won’t you consider leaving a comment?

Thank you Father Sera

Anonymous said...

An imam, a rabbi and a priest were discussing their vocations.

I was in the desert with my camel when a great sandstorm blew up said the imam. We were choking to death with the blown sand when I called upon Allah the Merciful. At once the clouds parted and the Sun shone down and for a hundred metres all about us the sand settled and the air was clear, although the sandstorm still raged over the rest of the desert. When calm was eventually restored I went straight to the nearest oasis and gave away all my worldly goods, and then went to Mecca to study to become an Imam.

It really is incredible said the rabbi how similar your story is to my own. I was walking in Jerusalem on the Sabbath when, in the Old City, I came upon a wall that had been hit by a truck the previous night. Deep in a crack in the wall I could see a chest with gold coins spilling out of it. But I could not reach the chest without moving a lot of stones - and it was the Sabbath, when any work is forbidden. In my perplexity I called upon Jahweh. In the moment that I called the clouds parted and the Sun shone down, and for a hundred cubits all about me it was Tuesday.

How amazing said the priest, how similar these stories are to my own. The Hispanic parishioners are now the majority but they hardly gave any contributions. I need all the contributions for my personal investments. But one day the Bishop made an unexpected visit to collect his cut of the contributions after the Spanish Mass. Unfortunately as usual, we ran out of coffee and donuts, so there were no leftovers to serve the bishop. The bishop was infuriated that there was no money and donuts. I gave the meal money owed to the associate priest and gave it to the bishop. The priest complained so to shut him up, we fired him and sent him to see a psychiatrist. At once the clouds parted and the Sun shone down, and for a hundred yards all about another associate priest from India arrived to take his place.

Anonymous said...

Dear sjp,

You said my pockets are mixed up because the spring fair at St. Joachim is a SCHOOL fundraiser, not a church fundraiser!! Didn’t you know that Fr. Sera has his fingers in everyone’s pocket especially yours? As the shepherd he has the power to close down the school if he doesn’t get any.

Anonymous said...

Is this true? Does Rev. Nguyen own a $600,000 house, $60,000 car, $10,000 plasma television?

Anonymous said...

I too would like to know if these are true; but what I really want to know more is how did you come up with this information about Fr. Michael? Did you actually see and know these facts yourslef or did you hear from someone who dislikes Fr. Michael and made up these things? Are the things you saying based on facts or rumors? From what you said, we know that you do not love your brother priest.

Anonymous said...

Is Fr. Nguyen the author of this blog? It is filled with poison. None of this makes sense. I can begin to understand why he was asked to leave.

By the way...I have seen the $60,000 car.

Anonymous said...

Considering Fr. Michael so desperately wants to be heard and read his manifesto before the congregation, I would have a very hard time believing this blog is not written by him. Of course it is! He would never sit silently by and let others speak for him. He is an agressive, misguided, money motivated man that thinks everyone is wrong except him. I am very grateful he was asked to leave as well. Would you want spiritual guidance from a person like this? Financial advice maybe...spiritual, no way!

Anonymous said...

Wow! I just spoke with someone (a member of the Vietnamese community) who was approached directly by Fr. Michael for $10,000 for an alter chair!! Sickning! You don't need a throne to sit on Fr. Michael. Wouldn't your efforts be more Christ like if you were collecting money for a worthy cause such as the homeless or terminally ill?

As mentioned elsewhere on this blog, Fr. Michael's major accomplishments at St. Boniface were:

*Church painting
*Facelift w/ marble Ambo
*Presiders chair ($10,000?)
*Doubling Sunday collections

Fr. Michael, you are not a king, you are not an interior designer, you are a priest. Act like one and maybe you will get the respect you seem to want.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know if that presider's chair actually cost $10,000, or maybe the priest was pocketing some of that money. Fr. Michael has very expensive tastes...how does a priest really afford all of that?

Anonymous said...

Father Michael, if you should have to suffer, suffer quietly and offer it up for the good souls of purgatory. They will get more out of your suffering than you will. Amos, Jeremiah, the suffering servant you are not! if you have already gone through three pastors, and an agravated bishop, then get a clue! Maybe the problem is not with them, but with you. How long will you wallow in self pity and denial? Suck it up, move on, and if need be, i will adopt you when i see you on FEED THE CHILDREN. Just kidding! Leave the stories of starvation to those who are really suffering. If all else fails, sell the 60k car, buy a small one, maybe one like the common parishoner at St. Boniface can afford. There is no reason for you to drive a car more expensive than your average parishoner can afford...it's called humility in the priesthood, not career priesthood.

In regards to the throne you built at st. boniface, it's hideous; i saw it when i went to a wedding there. I was actually dissapointed to find out it cost 10k to make it. and the color outside... what were you thinking? was the blue left over from some correctional facility? Last time i saw that color was on a detention facility in the former USSR. Someone i know quoted you, Fr. Michael, as saying about the painting project at st. boniface, "the three communities [of the parish] came together in this project, an anglo donated some of the paint, a vietnamese man is the contractor, and the mexicans are doing the painting". Because of that comment, i have just withdrawn my vote for you for humanitarian for the year.

Now, i wonder if poor Msgr Sammon is turning over in his grave at seeing the circus you are creating for yourself, THE PRIESTHOOD and the good people of the diocese of Orange. That man was a saint, you should read up on him!

In ending, get some help, and let the people of Orange be. "For it is better for a man to tie a millstone around his neck and be thrown into the water, than to mislead one of these little ones."

Anonymous said...

Monk Ambrosio,

Thank you for mentioning Msgr Sammon. I just went and read about him and he sounds like he was a wonderful man.

You also got me curious about the throne at St. Boniface and the ugly blue paint. Too bad neither were shown on their website. Maybe I will have to make a trip there to see Fr. Michael's major accomplishments. While I am there I just may ask around to see what the people there think or thought of him. I suspect the story will be similar to what he has done at St Joachim. When one does not face the truth about his behavior and attitudes and instead blames others for his problems, how can he ever change or improve?

Anonymous said...

Dear anonymous, SJP, monk ambrosio,

I cannot help but wonder if you are not all one and the same person. Admit that you are intimidated and jealous of Fr. Michael to have him kicked out.

You should know that lots of priests own their own homes (some more than one). Some priests pretend that they are poor but behind the fake façade, they invest in immoral goods, perhaps in abortion pills and the like. Other priests even bishops lead double lives with children on the side. Some priests drive Mercedes Benz and BMWs and go on extravagant vacations using church funds. Priests are not exempt from embezzlement.

You believe in your heart that you are followers of Fr. Sera. If I’m not mistaken you are one and the same person; since you all think in the same hateful way. What a shame it is that people who follow Fr. Sera would be so vicious at one young priest.

If you believe that Fr. Sera is suffering, then what is he hiding in the two garages that he keeps for himself?

Anonymous said...

So Fr. Michael, what your saying is that you wrote a letter to your parish saying that you are poor and on the brink of starvation and homelessness....but you own a home and a very expensive car?????

Fr. Michael, stop this blog and stop trying to destroy people. When Jesus was dying on the Cross he said, "Father forgive them they know not what they do." The same thing with St. Stephen as he was being stoned to death, "Father, forgive them."

If all that you say is true (which I doubt), then why don't you follow their example.

Anonymous said...

I have read Fr. Michael’s farewell letter.
Instead of leaving a valid response to the Fr. Michael’s letter, all those who leave comments in favor of Fr. Sera are consistently attacking Fr. Michael and avoiding the issues laid out in the letter.

Housing, transportation and money are necessities for everyone to live in a social environment. Without food, one will die within days. I am suspicious why not one single comment from Fr. Sera’s camp has given a valid answer to any of the complaints. Therefore, in regards to the seven questions by orange county catholic on May 18, 2007 5:53 PM, can we ask Fr. Sera, his supporters and followers to confirm the following?

(1) Did Fr. Sera ban Fr. Michael, so he can keep all the Easter gifts for himself?
(2) Did Fr. Sera withhold meals from Fr. Michael so he can feed his family and friends?
(3) Did Fr. Sera withhold publishing the Sunday collection so as to hide what he keeps for himself?
(4) Did Fr. Sera not concelebrate with Fr. Michael because he wants all the attention to himself?
(5) Can Fr. Sera please explain why all priests who worked under him except for ONE have left the priesthood?
(6) Again, who is the ONLY priest who worked under Fr. Sera that did not leave the priesthood?
(7) What kind of priest does Fr. Sera consider as a friend, a poor and starving priest?

Unknown said...

How do we send money to Fr. Michael? Or maybe do a fundraiser so that he can eat and have somewhere to live?

Unknown said...

It took me a while but I think I have the answers to the above questions.

1. No
2. No
3. No
4. No
5. He doesn't need to. Can Fr. Nguyen explain, why he has been through 3 pastors in such a short time?
6. He doesn't need to.
7. A humble priest who isn't fixated on his own financial gain.

One question: Is Fr. Nguyen making all of these allegations because Fr. Sera is hispanic? Just wondering.

Unknown said...

I attended seminary with Michael Nguyen. We sat across from each other in Spanish class. As you can imagine, seminary life was a somber experience. Michael was a joy to be around. He had energy and a zeal for life. His enthusiasm, hearty laugh, and bright smile made each day tolerable. If the Holy Spirit could be found anywhere at St. John's, it was in the smile and soul of Michael Nguyen. It saddens me to read this and know that Michael suffered at the hands of the faithful. I pray that Michael is healthy and happy. I still think of his wonderful energy and how it lifted me up on those days when God was nowhere to be found.