Bishop-elect fought hard to escape to Canada

Special to The B.C. Catholic



Father Joseph Phuong Nguyen, Bishop-elect of Kamloops, was celebrated with cheers and laughter at the farewell dinner held in his honour.

The eldest of 10 children, Father Nguyen’s journey to Canada and the priesthood was not an easy one. Born to a Catholic family in Vietnam, he made two escape attempts, spent some time in a Vietnamese prison, then overcame culture shock when he arrived in Canada with little English.

Looking back on his experiences, the priest, until the end of May the vicar general of the Archdiocese of Vancouver, said sometimes God gives people challenges to help them grow stronger.

“Everything that happens in life becomes a message from God. Through the hard times and also the good times all becomes a message from God. Through hardship we persevere and remain faithful. God will find a way for you, if you are faithful to Him.”

One of his sisters, a nun, was present to celebrate with her brother. She said she was not surprised at his being chosen. “We grew up in a very Catholic family,” Sister Faustina said. “My mom said she wanted my brother to be a bishop.”

Their mother has died, but their father will be at the ordination at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops Aug. 25 at 3 p.m.

“When I left my family I didn’t have any hope to see them again,” Father Nguyen explained. “Only see them in heaven. But now we can do so. I have planned in the past to see them every three years. Now they come over for this big event in my life. I am very grateful to God for the love of my God and my siblings.”

Many of the speakers at the dinner displayed affection for Father Nguyen, including Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB. He shared a story about being at Mass with Father Nguyen: at the beginning of the Offertory Father Nguyen pulled his envelope out and added it to the collection plate.

“I remember thinking, ‘This guy really is with his people.’

“We will miss Father a lot. He has been just a wonderful, wonderful person,” Archbishop Miller added.

People from parishes Father Nguyen has served during his time in the Vancouver archdiocese spoke of his passion for the Church and its people.

“Although you have been away from the parish for many years, we are touched by how you still reach out to us with personal greetings and acknowledgements when we see you around the archdiocese,” said Elaine Tan from Our Lady of Mercy Parish. “You have touched all of us with your humility and grace.”

Conchita Bambilla from St. Andrew’s Parish called Father Nguyen a “small man with a big heart.”

She said during the nine years she was at the parish he demonstrated “zeal, fidelity, faithfulness, prudence, and gratefulness in his life as a parish priest.”

Teens from the parish performed a dance to the song, I Will Follow Him.

Lesya Balsevich, an associate superintendent of the Catholic Independent Schools of the Vancouver Archdiocese (CISVA), told a humorous story about Father Nguyen advising some students at one of the Catholic schools to study Mark chapter 17 in preparation for his next homily.

“When the time came he asked the students if they had done their homework and had they read chapter 17 of Mark. Many hands in the pews went up.”

She said Father Nguyen then looked at everyone over the top of his glasses and said, “Interesting! Mark only has 16 chapters. Let me now give you my homily on lying.”

During the evening Father Nguyen was given many gifts and cards, including a spiritual bouquet with messages of love and prayers from CISVA. He was also given a baseball jersey like the ones given by the archdiocese to local youth to be worn at World Youth Day in Poland.

The bishop-elect told the audience he was trying to approach his new position prayerfully and with humility.

“Since my appointment was announced June 1, every day I look back with gratitude. “It is not about my qualities. It is about God’s mercy. God’s mercy has bestowed honours on you and on me.”

Father Nguyen will become the sixth bishop of Kamloops. Information about bus travel from Vancouver to his ordination in Kamloops is available at www.rcav.org.