Bishop Nguyen gave these remarks after his episcopal ordination Aug. 25.
Dear friends in Christ,
I humbly acknowledge my shortness in everything. I believe that I am called not because I am capable or worthy. It is not about my qualities. It is about God’s mercy. Merciful God has given me the diocese of Kamloops as a great and precious gift. I hope and pray that my life, my sacrifice, and my service here may become a gift for this diocese.
I wish to express my gratitude, filial respect, and loyalty to our Holy Father, Pope Francis, for the great trust he has placed in me by naming me the sixth bishop of Kamloops. I also thank Archbishop Luigi Bonazzi, the apostolic nuncio, and am deeply grateful to Msgr. Firmin Rodriguez for being the presence of the Holy Father for us today.
I gratefully thank Bishop David Monroe, my predecessor, not just for his years of leadership of the Church in Kamloops: he has lived his vocation in service, extraordinary service as a servant leader. I’m very deeply grateful.
In a very special way I thank Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB. It was a great blessing for me to serve as his vicar general; from him I have learned so much for my ministry as priest and now as bishop.
I thank Archbishop Richard Gagnon, who welcomed me into his rectory as a refugee without any English; your homily is a great lesson for me to learn still.
My great thanks to my brother bishops, who have come from many parts of Canada, despite their own demanding schedules. Now I understand the burden you carry, the great love required on your part in being responsible for your flock. More than ever, I understand what it means to be asked by the Lord, “Do you love me more than these? Feed my sheep!”
I thank Abbot John Braganza and the Benedictine community for the formation and support I have received from you. I thank my brother priests, deacons, religious, and seminarians of Archdiocese of Vancouver for your fraternal care and support throughout my priestly ministry in Vancouver.
I appreciate the presence of Chief Fred Seymour of the First Nations and the presence of representatives from other churches and faith traditions, public officials, and our MLA, who honour us with their presence today.
I am so grateful to the Catholic Women’s League, the Knights of Columbus, the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, and especially the Serra Club who faithfully supported the work of vocations during my ministry as the vocations director in Vancouver.
There are many friends here today from many different parts of my life: the alumni of St. Paul Lebaotinh’s seminary, back in the Diocese of Banmethuot, Vietnam, and many friends I have known in different parish communities and offices where I have been privileged to minister. Thanks for your friendship and the kindness you have shown me throughout the years; you have enriched my life.
I am grateful as well today for the presence of my family. I would point out that we take up several rows! It could have been more rows, but I suggested that some of them stay home; we did not want to take over the whole arena!
Now is the kind of moment when the thoughts of a son turn to his mother and father, to the cradle of my family, to the bosom of my mother and the arms of my father. I thank my parents for nurturing my life and cultivating my faith.
I am blessed that all my siblings are practising and active in their faith. Mom is no longer with us on earth, but she lives with us still in the love that my sisters and brothers have given me throughout my priesthood. I am so blessed to have Dad and siblings from Vietnam with me at this celebration.
Today I begin a whole new part of my ministry, and so I warmly greet in a special way the clergy, religious, seminarians, and laity of this Diocese of Kamloops. I am ordained for you; I come as your new shepherd, As Pope Francis tells bishops: I will have to get to know the smell of the sheep before I can serve you well as the Lord calls me to.
As your bishop, I am your shepherd; as a Catholic, I am your brother. I have come to serve you, to wash your feet as Jesus commands to repeat the great commandment: love one another as he loves us. It is His love that binds us together as a family. Our Diocese of Kamloops is a family of faith and love.
The immensity of love is always measured by the cross. What we do in the coming years to respond to this call will define who we really are. We need to be Catholic first. Jesus Christ is the centre of our lives, and the Church is our mother and teacher. Please remember that salvation is not a cheap grace, but serving Christ and His Church is worth suffering for.
I entrust you to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the patroness of our diocese, that she may bring you and me closer to her Son on the cross. Please pray for me as I pray for you, that we, as a family of Kamloops Diocese, never fail the cross but always keep up our principle of life, faith in action, with the joy of the Gospel.
Thank you and God bless.
