On Sunday morning, February 19, 2023, the Custody of St. Francis Anthony Fasani in Vietnam was delighted to have two friars ordained to the priesthood and two friars ordained to the diaconate. All four were ordained through the imposition of the hands of the Most Reverend Joseph NGUYỄN (Tấn Tước), Bishop of Phú Cường, Vietnam. The ordinations took place at the Sơn Lộc Parish Church in Hồ Chí Minh City, Vietnam.
The two deacons are Friar Joseph LÊ (Văn Vượng), Econom of the Annunciation Friary in Củ Chi, Vietnam, and Assistant Postulancy Director; and Friar Paul TRƯƠNG (Văn Mỹ), the Assistant Novice Master at the St. Francis of Assisi Friary in Dak Nông, Vietnam. The new priests are Friar Joseph NGUYỄN (Văn Nhàn) who ministers to the lepers at the leper colony in Văn Môn, in northern Vietnam, and Friar Joseph VÕ (Quốc Cường), a member of the Mother Province of St. Joseph of Cupertino in the USA (SJC) [California].
Those attending the ordinations included the Custos of the Provincial Custody, Friar Joseph TRẦN (Văn Long); a Provincial Definitor from the SJC Province, Friar Tammylee NGO; some friars from the Custody of Vietnam, various priests and religious from other congregations and dioceses in Vietnam; the families of the newly ordained friars and the local faithful. Father Victor ABEGG, the Minister Provincial of the SJC Province, had come to Vietnam one week before the ordinations, but because he was not feeling well, he was unable to attend the Mass.
In his homily, the bishop shared that the sacred order of the priesthood was a great gift from God to human beings; because through the life and ministry of each priest, God’s beloved Son continues to be present, carrying out his salvific activity for all people. The bishop invited the newly ordained priests and deacons to more deeply examine the mysteries of the incarnation, mission, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that their own lives and ministries might be as fruitful as the life and ministry of St. Francis.
After the ordination, the two new priests went to their local parishes, where they each celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving and blessed their families.
May God grant our confreres the grace of a good life in the fraternity and may they perform the ministry entrusted to them with fidelity, humility and commitment.
Friar Joseph NGUYỄN (Chính Luận), Custodial Secretary
