Alumnus Priest: “We Must See that Our Only Happiness is in the Blessed Trinity”

The National Catholic Register has posted a new interview with one of the College’s alumni priests, Rev. Jacob (Joseph ’06) Hsieh, O.Praem. Five years after his ordination, Fr. Jacob continues to serve with the Norbertine Fathers at St. Michael’s Abbey in Silverado, California. He teaches freshman Latin and junior religion at Mary Star of the Sea High School in San Pedro as well as chant at Ss. Peter and Paul Church in Wilmington, and he leads the schola for parish’s Latin Mass.

In the interview, Fr. Jacob recalls the role that the College played in helping him to discern his vocation with the Norbertines. “There was a Norbertine chaplain at Thomas Aquinas College who introduced me to St. Michael’s Abbey,” he tells author Jim Graves. “I visited the Abbey and was inspired by all of the young vocations there. The priests and seminarians were praying the Rosary and adoring the Eucharist every day together.”

In addition to discussing his love of the extraordinary form and music — Fr. Jacob is a harpsichordist, organist, flautist, and a highly accomplished pianist — the young priest also offers advice to a world that finds itself increasingly adrift spiritually. “We must form our minds after Truth,” says Fr. Jacob. “As long as people think they can be happy by themselves, there is no hope for them. We must see that our only happiness is in the Blessed Trinity. We must have good catechesis and beautiful liturgy, a deep prayer life and devotion to Mary.”