Latest Message from the Administrator’s Desk: Fr. Ton Nguyen – August 2, 2026

WHAT ARE WE TRULY HUNGRY FOR?

I was waiting at a red light when a man suddenly rushed toward me and gave me a big hug. I froze for a moment, wondering, “Do I know this person?” Then he smiled and said, “Father, it’s Tony from Catholic Charities!”

Immediately, I remembered him. At Cathedral, a group of volunteers and I served dinner every Thursday and Friday at Catholic Charities. Over time, we came to know many of our guests by name, and they became more than faces in a line – they became friends. That joyful surprise reminded me that sometimes the deepest hunger we have is not simply for food, but to be seen, remembered, and loved.

This Sunday’s Gospel begins with Jesus withdrawing by boat to a deserted place. He was looking for a little quiet. Did He find it? Well, the crowds heard where He was going and hurried after Him on foot. Imagine making that journey without air conditioning, bottled water, or comfortable shoes! Why would they go to such lengths? What were they truly hungry for?

St. John Vianney, whose feast we celebrate this week, once said, “When the heart is pure and simple, it cannot help loving, because it has discovered the source of love, which is God.” Those crowds had spent their lives searching for happiness in many places – catching more fish, buying more land, or building bigger barns. Yet when they encountered Jesus, they discovered something their hearts had been longing for all along.

Does this sound familiar? Why does a baby cry when adults are busy talking? Why do teenagers sometimes react so strongly? Why do parents work so hard to provide a better life? Why are people willing to squeeze into huge crowds and sit in traffic for hours just to attend Lollapalooza? Behind all these questions pointing to the fact that we all hunger for something more. We long to be loved, understood, forgiven, accepted, and to know that our lives have meaning. Family, work, success, friendships, and entertainment are all good gifts, but they cannot fully satisfy the deepest hunger of the human heart. As St. Augustine reminds us, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” Every human hunger ultimately points us toward God.

Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for August is for evangelization in the city. He invites us to pray that, amid the anonymity and loneliness of urban life, we may discover new ways to proclaim the Gospel and build authentic community. Perhaps evangelization begins with something very simple: noticing the hunger in another person. A listening ear, a word of encouragement, a shared meal, or an invitation to Mass may become the moment someone discovers that Christ has been searching for them all along.

Speaking of food… mark your calendars for our Taste of St. Mother Theodore Guerin on Saturday, September 12! Bring your family, friends, and neighbors – and come hungry. We’ll take care of at least one kind of hunger together.

I love being a priest!

JMJ,
Fr. Ton Nguyen
Administrator of St. Mother Theodore Guerin Parish