Thousands of people joined the Society of Jesus in Vietnam in welcoming 11 new Jesuit priests who were ordained on 3 December, Feast of St Francis Xavier. Most Rev Joseph Nguyen Tan Tuoc, Bishop of Phu Cuong, presided over the ordination, with the new Vietnamese Provincial Fr Joseph Pham Tuan Nghia SJ and more than 170 priests, at St Joseph Jesuit Scholasticate in Thu Duc.
The newly ordained Jesuit priests, from left to right in the photo, are Fr Francis Xavier Nguyen Quang Tuan SJ, Fr Joseph Hoang Thanh Phong SJ, Fr Joseph Le Dac Thang SJ, Fr Bartholomew Nguyen Anh Huy SJ, Fr Peter Nguyen Van Hoe SJ, Fr Dominic Le Van Luan SJ, Fr Peter Nguyen Phuc Hoang Dung SJ, Fr Paul Nguyen Hong Nhu Khue SJ, Fr Joseph Tuan Vu Chi Thanh SJ, Fr Cornelius Dinh Chi Thien SJ, and Fr Joseph Nguyen Tien Khai SJ.
Bishop Tuoc, speaking to an estimated 2,500 people, stressed the urgency of evangelising modern society. From the will of His Father, Jesus came into the world preaching the Gospel of God, and after finishing his mission Jesus commanded his disciples to “go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature,” said the bishop. “When a person realises that he or she belongs to God and is blessed by His grace, that person freely commits his or her entire self to God and His people,” he added.
Citing the example of St Francis Xavier, the patron of the Vietnamese Province, Bishop Tuoc urged the new priests to “love the Gospel and become living gospels that show God’s people the way of salvation.”
At the end of the Mass, Fr Nghia expressed his gratitude on behalf of the new priests and the whole province. He thanked especially Bishop Tuoc, priests, religious, benefactors, collaborators, and the families and relatives of the newly ordained.
The next day, the new priests celebrated their thanksgiving Mass in the Chapel of St Joseph Jesuit Scholasticate. Fr Joseph Tuan Vu Chi Thanh SJ presided while Fr Paul Nguyen Hong Nhu Khue SJ gave the homily. Fr Cornelius Dinh Chi Thien SJ spoke on behalf of his brothers, thanking their Provincial and fellow Jesuits for accompanying them in their formation. He also thanked the people who worked hard to make their ordination a memorable one. [Jescom Vietnam]
