Seven Jesuits of the Vietnamese Province were ordained as deacons on March 2 by Most Rev Luis Nguyen Anh Tuan, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Saigon. Relatives and friends of the ordinands, and Jesuits from nearby communities gathered bright and early for the solemn ordination Mass at the Oratory of Saint Joseph Jesuit Scholasticate in Thu Duc, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
The newly ordained deacons are Rev Paul Trương Minh Cao SJ, Rev Paul Nguyễn Văn Chí SJ, Rev Vincent Nguyễn Văn Công SJ, Rev Joseph Vương Văn Đỉnh SJ, Rev Joseph Trương Đình Sáng SJ, Rev Joseph Mary Trương Hoàng Sơn SJ and Rev Peter Nguyễn Bá Tinh SJ.
Reflecting on the Gospel of Mathew 20: 25-28, Bishop Tuan invited the congregation to contemplate and mirror Jesus as a model of love and generosity. He urged the deacons to imitate Jesus Christ in serving humanity, saying they should strive “to serve, not to be served” and to follow his way of life by living their vows of chastity, poverty and obedience.
The Bishop also called on them to live faithfully their Jesuit vocation by relying upon the charism of spiritual discernment in realising God’s will for them and in fulfilling it. Lastly, he invited the new deacons to be men of God and men for others by internalising a prayerful life and living a spirit of service.
The newly ordained deacons have responded promptly to the call of service. Ordination to the diaconate is the final step in preparation for priestly ordination in the Society of Jesus. As Roman Catholic deacons, they are ordained to assist the Bishop and his Presbyterate as ministers of the Word, of the altar and of charity. They proclaim the Gospel, preach and teach in the name of the church. From now on, as ministers of the sacraments, they are authorised to baptise, witness marriages and conduct wake and funeral services.
May the Lord bless our new deacons and grant them His grace in order that they may live faithfully their Jesuit vocation. [Vietnam Jesuits]
