The Annunciation is the Feast celebrating the Lord’s Incarnation in Mary’s womb in which Mary humbly accepted the angel Gabriel’s call to become the mother of Jesus, the Son of God. Following the obedient example of Mary, these young men have accepted God’s call to love and serve in all things. Thus, in his homily, Bishop Tuoc invited the ordinandi “to participate in the mission of Christ to be good shepherds and good priests like Jesus Christ to care and serve the people of God.”
The role of deacons is to proclaim the Gospel, to preach the homily, to assist at the altar. They may also baptize, witness and bless marriages, preside at the liturgy of the hours, and preside at funeral liturgies among many other duties. “To accomplish all these holy tasks, it is important for you to have an intimate relationship with the Lord through prayer and service as the opening prayer of the today’s liturgy: Wisdom in action, persistence in prayer and gently in serving,” Bishop Tuoc reminded the ordinandi.
The ceremony was held with reduced capacity due to COVID-19. Given the difficulties of the pandemic, many of the family members and relatives of the newly ordained were unable to participate.
“Being ordained in the time of crisis of COVID-19, and of conflicts and wars happening in the world, I see this ordination as an apparent sign of God’s grace. God hears our cries, especially the cries of the poor, with the sincere voices. As a deacon called to serve God and human beings, along with many brothers and sisters with good examples of caring and serving others, I’m really happy to become witness for the love and compassion of God to his people. My ordination in this crisis time awakes and deepens my sense of mission for the poor and reconciliation. It is really a meaningful call to me,” Rev. Dominic Le Van Luan shared.
Reflecting upon his vocation, Rev. Joseph Tuan Vu Chi Thanh said: “From a very young age, about the 6th grade, I have felt an attraction to the priesthood. At that time, I felt engaged to the Eucharistic Jesus who wanted me to be close to Him. At the same time, I felt a marvelous joy when I read the Bible. Then, I have desired to be a preacher of God’s Word to everyone.”
Rev. Cornelius Dinh Chi Thien also talked about his vocation as follows: “I felt that God has called me to be a religious man from my high school. I was not sure whether I would be a priest or not. Then, in the Jesuit candidate house, I prayed that if God wants, I will be a priest to serve Him and His Church. I have learnt that God wants me to be a priest for the poor people year by year.”
Currently, Revs. Thien, Thanh, Khue, Luan, Dung and Tuan are studying their 4th-year theological program at St. Joseph Jesuit Scholasticate while Revs Khai and Hoe have been missioned to Jesuit local communities in Kien Giang and Vinh.
Eight Newly Ordained Deacons
Vietnam Province of the Society of Jesus
L-R: Rev. Peter Nguyễn Văn Hoè, SJ, Rev. FX Nguyễn Quang Tuấn, SJ, Rev. Paul Nguyễn Hồng Như Khuê, SJ, Rev. Joseph Tuân Vũ Chí Thành, SJ, Most Rev. Joseph Nguyễn Tấn Tước of the Diocese of Phú Cường, Rev. Cornelius Đinh Chí Thiện, SJ, Rev. Peter Nguyễn Phúc Hoàng Dũng, SJ, Rev. Dominic Lê Văn Luận, SJ, Rev. Joseph Nguyễn Tiến Khải, SJ
Rev. Peter Nguyen Van Hoe, SJ, 39, born in Bac Giang, a small province in the north of Vietnam. He is the youngest of six siblings in his family. He studied at Van Lang University in Ho Chi Minh City, with a major in Environmental Engineer and Manager. He joined the Jesuit Candidacy Programin 2009. After two years in the Sacred Heart Novitiate, he took first vows in 2012. He did three years of philosophy at Saint Joseph Scholasticate (SJJS). From 2015 to 2017, he was sent to St. Michael Archangel parish for his regency. Then, he came back to the SJJS to pursue his theological studies. In 2021 he finished his theological program and was sent to the St. Joseph de Anchieta community in Vinh Diocese.
Rev. FX Nguyen Quang Tuan, SJ, He was born in 1986 in Bảo Lộc city of Lâm Đồng province. He was the third of four siblings. He joined the candidate house in 2015 while he was studying electronics and telecommunication at Ho Chí Minh City University of Technology. After graduating from university, he entered the novitiate in 2010 and took his first vows in 2012. From 2012 to 2015, he studied philosophy at Saint Joseph Jesuit Scholasticate. After that, he did his regency in Cambodia for 3 years, working in Jesuit Service Cambodia and Sisophon parish. Since 2018, he has been studying theology at Saint Joseph Jesuit Scholasticate in Vietnam and is in the 4th year of theology.
Rev. Paul Nguyen Hong Nhu Khue, SJ, 36, was born in Dak Nong Province in the South of Vietnam. After graduating from High School, he joined the candidacy house of the Society of Jesus in 2004. Then he studied at The University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Saigon, majoring in Sociology. He joined the Sacred Heart Novitiate in Thu Duc in 2011 and took his first vows in 2013. From 2013 to 2016, he studied philosophy in Saint Joseph’s Jesuit Scholasticate (SJJS). Then he spent two years of regency in Vinh diocese, Nghe An province. Since 2018 he has been studying in the theology program of SJJS. He is going to finish his theological studies in 2022.
Rev. Joseph Tuan. Vu Chi Thanh, SJ, 33, was born in Tay Ninh, a province located in the South of Vietnam. He is the youngest of six siblings in his family. In 2006, he graduated high school and entranced the University of Technical Education for his major, automobile. At the same year, he joined the Candidacy Program. In 2011, he joined the Sacred Heart Novitiate and took his first vows in 2013. From 2013 to 2016, he studied philosophy in St Joseph Jesuit Scholasticate. Then, he spent two years as a regent in Thanh Hoa diocese. Since 2018, he returned to the Scholasticate to study theology. He will finish his theological program this year.
Rev. Cornelius Dinh Chi Thien, SJ, 41, was born in Binh Duong province and grew up in Sai Gon city. He is the first of four siblings in his family. From 2006 to 2010, he studied the Bachelor’s program in the English Language at Ho Chi Minh City Open University. He entered the Sacred Heart Novitiate in Thu Duc in 2011 and took his first vows in 2013. From 2013 to 2016, he studied philosophy in St Joseph Jesuit Scholasticate in Thu Duc. From 2016 to 2018, he did his Regency in Long Xuyen, An Giang province. Since 2018 he has been studying theology at St Joseph Jesuit Scholasticate in Thu Duc.
Rev. Peter Nguyen Phuc Hoang Dung, SJ, 36, born in Nha Trang. After graduating from high school, he joined the candidacy house of the Society of Jesus in 2004. He spent two years advancing English language before studying in Chinese Language and Culture Department at University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Saigon. In 2011, after one year being pre-novice, he entered the novitiate and took his First Vows on 31 May 2013. From 2013 to 2016, he studied philosophy at Saint Joseph’s Jesuit Scholasticate (SJJS). Then he spent two years of regency in Laos. Since 2018 he has been in theology program of SJJS. He is going to finish his theological study this year.
Rev. Dominic Le Van Luan, SJ, 34, was born and grew up in Dong Nai province, south of Vietnam. He is the fifth of seven siblings in his family. He studied Law at the Ho Chi Minh University of Law. After graduation, he joined the Sacred Heart Novitiate in Thu Duc in 2011 and took his first vows in 2013. He finished the Philosophy program at St Joseph Jesuit Scholasticate in Vietnam in 2016. After that, he was sent to a small parish in Mekong Delta to do regency for two years. He taught the catechism for children, visited the poor, and accompanied a group of Catholic students there. From 2018 until now, he studied theology at St Joseph Jesuit Scholasticate.
Rev. Joseph Nguyen Tien Khai, SJ, 39, was born in Ho Chi Minh city, southern of Vietnam. He has an older sister and a younger sister who belongs to Sisters of St. Paul the Chartres. He studied Mechanical Engineering at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and joined the Candidacy House in 2004. After graduating university and having worked for one year as a mechanical engineer, he entered the novitiate in 2009 and took his first vows in 2011. He did his 3-year philosophy at St. Joseph Jesuit Scholasticate. In 2014, he was sent to Rome for his 2-year regency at Radio Vatican. Then, he did theology in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University and finished it in 2019. Now he is working at Minh Hoa sub-parish in Long Xuyen Diocese.
