The Vietnam Jesuit Province has five new priests. Fr Peter Tran Vinh Danh SJ, Fr Thomas Aquinas Nguyen Khanh Duy SJ, Fr Joseph Nguyen Hai Dang SJ, Fr Augustine Nguyen Thai Hiep SJ and Fr Anthony Nguyen Huu Khanh SJ were ordained by Bishop Joseph Dinh Duc Dao, Prelate of Xuan Loc Diocese, on August 24 in Ho Chi Minh City.
Concelebrating the Ordination Mass was Vietnam Provincial Fr Vincent Pham Van Mam SJ, Saint Joseph Jesuit Scholasticate Rector Fr Joseph Pham Tuan Nghia SJ and more than 80 priests, both Jesuits and non-Jesuits. There were thousands in attendance including relatives and guests of the new priests and of the Society of Jesus.
Bishop Dao reminded the ordinands about the priest’s ministry of teaching. He told them that having received the Word of God, they must spread it to the people of God throughout the world, and they should do the same with the Sacraments. In addition, he asked them to remember that they have been called and chosen, so that they should always be happy in their ministries with their true love, Jesus Christ, the merciful shepherd.
Speaking at the end of the Mass, Fr Mam thanked Bishop Dao for his love and care for the Society of Jesus. Fr Mam also thanked the faithful who have accompanied the Jesuits and attended the Ordination Mass. He especially expressed his gratitude to the new priests’ parents and relatives for dedicating their sons to the Society.
The next day, August 25, the newly ordained priests celebrated their thanksgiving Mass in the chapel of the Saint Joseph Jesuit Scholasticate. Fr Mam and nearly 40 Jesuit priests concelebrated, and 70 Jesuit scholastics and some relatives attended the Mass. In their words of thanks, the new priests spoke of the importance of “remaining in Jesus’ love” and “the sense of belonging to the Society”. This was their experience during their religious life as Jesuits. Fr Mam remarked that the occasion was indeed a cause for joy and gratitude to God and to His people.
Fr Tran Vinh Danh, Fr Nguyen Khanh Duy and Fr Nguyen Hai Dang have just finished their theological studies at the Saint Joseph Jesuit Scholasticate, while Fr Nguyen Huu Khanh completed his theological studies at Heythrop School of Theology, London, England. Fr Nguyen Thai Hiep is studying STL in Biblical Studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, Italy.