On 2 December, 15 Vietnamese Jesuit deacons responded to God’s invitation and embraced the call to be Jesus’ companions in the priestly vocation, following in the example of St Ignatius and his first companions.
The new priests are Fr Joseph Bùi Thế Dũng SJ, Fr Vincent Trần Văn Đỉnh SJ, Fr Joseph Nguyễn Văn Đức SJ, Fr Anthony Nguyễn Quang Huy SJ, Fr Dominic Hà Quốc Huy SJ, Fr Francis Xavier Phạm Quang Khanh SJ, Fr Anthony Trần Phi Lâm SJ, Fr Joseph Đỗ Văn Liệu SJ, Fr John Baptist Trần Ngọc Anh Linh SJ, Fr Paul the Convert Đỗ Thành Nguyên SJ, Fr Paul Nguyễn Hữu Phong SJ, Fr Peter Nguyễn Huy Quý SJ, Fr Joseph Ngô Văn Sơn SJ, Fr Dominic Nguyễn Văn Thế SJ, and Fr Paul Bùi Đức Thiện SJ.
Most Rev Peter Nguyen Van Kham, Bishop of My Tho, presided at the liturgy held in Hien Linh parish, Thu Duc in Ho Chi Minh, with Vietnamese Provincial Fr Joseph Phạm Tuấn Nghĩa SJ and more than 250 priests, including Jesuits, concelebrating. The ordination was further graced by the presence of about 3,500 family members, relatives, and friends of the ordinands.
Reflecting on Mk 16:15-20, Bishop Kham in his homily, underscored Jesus’ perennial command to “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature” (Mk. 16,15). He invited the new priests to become true disciples of Christ and emulate the example of St Francis Xavier by sharing God’s gospel to His people.
Addressing the congregation, Bishop Kham urged everyone to break free from the love of self, power, money, and position, and instead embrace a selfless commitment to love and service. He expressed his hope for the Jesuits to cultivate a restless heart in proclaiming the Gospel, just like St Francis Xavier. He urged them to become messengers of the Gospel “to the ends of the earth” in today’s world. He encouraged them to live the spirit of St Ignatius Prayer for Generosity, seeking added strength to courageously undertake their mission.
Indeed, guided by their ordination theme, “I have called you friends” (John 15:15), the newly ordained priests will be sent to serve in many places, including Myanmar, Timor-Leste, Cambodia, Japan, and Vietnam.
