Over the next several issues of One Heart, One Spirit, we’ll be welcoming the new Lay Spiritans who made their first formal commitments to the Lay Spiritans on October 2, 2024. First, we’re pleased to introduce Giovan Cuchapin.

Gio has been a campus minister at Duquesne University for the last 10 years, but he’s been involved with the Spiritans for longer than that.

He first heard and became aware of the Lay Spiritans when he was in Houston, TX.  He studied under Fr. Donald Nesti, C.S.Sp., and went to school with the first Vietnamese Spiritan seminarians at St. Mary’s Seminary  (Fr. Andy Do, C.S.Sp.,  Fr. Binh Quach, C.S.Sp., and Fr. Huy Dinh, C.S.Sp.).  He also worked with Spiritan priests at the University of Houston Catholic Newman Center including Fr. Dan Walsh, C.S.Sp., Fr. Huy Dinh, C.S.Sp., and Fr. Joseph Lam Nguyen, C.S.Sp. He spent 8 years doing youth and young adult ministry in the Archdiocese prior to moving to Pittsburgh.  It was at Duquesne University that he formalized his intention and formation as a Lay Spiritan Associate.  

As a Lay Spiritan, his focus is on his current ministry with students/young adults at Duquesne. As a part of his work with campus ministry, he’s had the privilege of visiting other Spiritan communities including Houston, TX, San Juan de la Maguana in the Dominican Republic and Portugal for World Youth Day in 2023. 

“Ministerially, I draw strength from 2 Timothy 4:1-5 - The solemn charge of our baptismal call to be faithful in doing Jesus’ work even in the midst of adversity. I also draw strength from John Henry Cardinal Newman’s prayer:  Fragrance Prayer and/or Radiating Christ Prayer,” he said.

2 Timothy 4:1-5
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingly power: proclaim the word;
be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching. For the time will come when
people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths. But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry.

Radiating Christ Prayer
Dear Jesus, help me to spread Your fragrance everywhere I go.
Flood my soul with Your spirit and life.
Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly,
That my life may only be a radiance of Yours.

Shine through me, and be so in me
That every soul I come in contact with
May feel Your presence in my soul.
Let them look up and see no longer me,
but only you, dear Jesus!

Gio is married to Jackie Ojeda-Cuchapin and they have 5 kids:  Gian, Isabelle, Joseph, Sophia and Matteo.

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