‌	Chaplain Damen 226 773.508.2202 tvu@luc.edu

Fr. Tho Vu, S.J.,was born in Bien Hoa, Vietnam. At the age of 6, he and his family immigrated to Omaha, Neb., Fr. Tho later enrolled at Creighton University, earning his B.S. EMS and was a paramedic. Once graduated, he entered the Jesuit novitiate in Saint Paul, Minn., in 2007. In 2009, Fr. Tho completed his graduate studies in philosophy and theology at Saint Louis University and Aquinas Institute of Theology. He then taught Scripture and held various positions at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School-Twin Cities in Minneapolis. In 2014, Fr. Tho became a pastoral associate at Saint Thomas More Catholic Community in Saint Paul, where he worked with couples in their preparation for marriage, served as the RCIA director, and helped create a young adult group at the parish. In 2015, Fr. Tho went to Boston College, Boston, Massachusetts, at the School of Theology and Ministry to complete his theology and earned his M.Div. and Th.M. and was ordained in June 2018. Currently, he serves as a chaplain for Loyola University Chicago. In the summers, Fr. Tho enjoys taking students on medical immersion trips, as he himself has gone throughout the world doing service including the Dominican Republic, India, Honduras, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Haiti. He enjoys cooking and meeting students.

 

“There was a time when I first came to the United States when everything was new to me, and I did not know English that well. When I was in first grade at recess, standing alone, watching the others play, one of the kids came up to me, put out his hand, took mine, and brought me into the game. I felt so much acceptance and gratitude, and for the first time, I recognized that gratitude had no boundaries or limits. It was a very similar feeling I had when standing at the novitiate door eleven years ago when a hand reached out to shake mine, and the novice director greeted me with such warmth and love.I believe that all of us share in God’s unique gifts and in the Lord’s care as God continues to bless us. I can never be grateful enough for all the Lord has done for me. Being ordained a Jesuit priest is the most wonderful and also humbling gift that I could have been given. When I looked around the church during my ordination, I saw family, relatives, brother Jesuits, friends, and all those who share in my faith. If it weren’t for them, I certainly wouldn’t have been able to answer and fulfill this call. There are so many people who ‘have ignited the flame’ of faith, hope, and love within my own heart, over so many years leading up to my ordination. I can only offer my thanks to them in my prayer and my priestly, sacramental, pastoral service to God’s people.”