austraLasia #3496
 
Vietnam Ordinations during the
Bicentenary
TAM HAI: August 22, 2014 – The On Friday morning, August 22nd, 11 Salesian deacons of the St. John Bosco province of Vietnam were ordained priests at the Tam Hai parish, one of the 7 Salesian parishes in the Saigon diocese. The ordination Mass was presided by Bishop Joseph Dinh Duc Dao, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Xuan Loc diocese, with about 120 Salesian and diocesan priests who concelebrated. The new priests are:

1. Joseph Pham Thanh Binh
2. John The Baptist Nguyen Chung
3. Joseph Nguyen Tri Dung
4. Nicolas Kieu Long Ho
5. John Le Tran Thanh Huynh
6. Michael Hoang Van Khan
7. Joseph Tran Bao Duy Nhan
8. Joseph Nguyen Truong Thach
9. Martin Mai Quyet Thang
10. Vincent Nguyen Ngoc Thien
11. Francis Xavier Mai Anh Tuan

Taking part at the ordination mass were Fr. Joseph Tran Hoa Hung, SDB -the VIE provincial, the other Salesians, a number of diocesan priests and priests of other congregations, FMAs, members of Salesian family, parents, relatives, benefactors and friends of the new priests, including a good number of local parishioners from Tam Hai and the nearby parishes. The total number would reach to about 1.200 persons, with the choir of Tam Hai as animators of the liturgical hymns.

At the beginning of the Holy Mass, Bishop Joseph asked everybody to thank God for calling 11 Salesian deacons to be His priests, a precious favour to the Salesian Congregation and to the Church at the beginning of the Bicentenary year of Don Bosco’s birth. He also asked everybody to pray for these newly priests who had promised to be men of God and of the Church.

After the Gospel, the Bishop again took the opportunity to give a short instruction to the faithful and to the deacons on the important role and the duties of Christ’s priests.

Before the final blessing, Fr. Joseph Tran Hoa Hung -the provincial, expressed the gratitude of everyone for the presence of the bishop, priests, religious, and all the faithful who came to pray for the newly priests. He especially gave thanks to the parents of the newly priests who offered their sons to God and to the Salesian Society.

One of the newly ordained priests gave thanks to Bishop Joseph, the Salesian province, the members of the Salesian family and all those present. He also asked everybody to pray for them so that they will be always at the service of the youth according to the charism of Don Bosco in the Church.