Rome calls former refugee
The B.C. Catholic
The Diocese of Kamloops is about to witness the ordination of a bishop on its own soil for the first time, as Bishop-elect Joseph Nguyen becomes its sixth bishop, replacing the retiring Bishop David Monroe.
The ordination will be held at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops Aug. 25 at 3 p.m. Because of the size of the venue, admission tickets are not required. There will be a chance to congratulate the new bishop at the centre immediately after the ceremony.
Many of his friends, colleagues, and former parishioners will make the trip by bus from points in the Vancouver archdiocese, returning the same day. Information about the ordination and bus transport is available at www.rcdk.org and www.rcav.org.
“I look at Kamloops as a gift from the Holy Father, Pope Francis. He sent me that gift: the Kamloops people,” said Bishop-elect Joseph Nguyen.
“They will receive me as a gift from the Pope. My life, my service, will be a gift for them. With that, I have to commit myself to serve them well.”
“The day of the announcement from Rome, I was there. Bishop Monroe and I were driving from Kamloops to Quesnel.”
Father Nguyen was born in Vietnam and fled his home country when he faced persecution for trying to become a priest. He spent some time in a refugee camp in the Philippines before Vancouver sponsored him in 1987.
He was ordained a priest in the Archdiocese of Vancouver in 1992, and has served in several parishes and worked in various archdiocesan roles, most recently as the vicar general.
On his recent visit the bishop-elect got a taste for the place and the challenges he’ll face. He also noticed, “The people love their priests.”
