Religious life runs in the family; several of his relatives are priests or consecrated sisters
By Agnieszka Krawczynski
The B.C. Catholic
KAMLOOPS

One of Canada’s newest prelates comes from a family that truly honours religious life.

Bishop Joseph Phuong Nguyen of Kamloops has three siblings and several aunts and uncles who have also heard and answered that special call from God.

“He’s my older brother. I followed his footsteps,” said Father Peter Tuyen Nguyen, the new bishop’s brother, who is a diocesan priest in Hamilton, Ont.

Father Nguyen considers his older brother, Bishop Nguyen, a “role model.”

Joseph Nguyen was the first of his parents’ 10 children. He was ordained a priest in Vancouver in 1992. His brother Peter also became a priest, while two of their sisters embraced consecrated life.

That means “40 per cent of us are in religious life,” said Father Nguyen.

The other six siblings, who pursued other dreams, have had a combined total of 22 children. Seven of them are now in religious life or studying in the seminary.

Father Peter believes that strong sense of the value of priesthood and religious life, which runs deep in the family, helped Bishop Nguyen answer the call. “His vocation came from his uncles and aunts who are nuns and priests. I think they have influenced him greatly. I followed him, too.”

The new bishop’s father, eight siblings, and at least 10 other relatives attended the ordination, travelling to Kamloops from Ontario or Vietnam.

“I’m very happy and excited for him,” said Father Nguyen.

His father, who lives in Vietnam and doesn’t speak English, is also thrilled. “He said he’s very happy, but he’s worried because being a bishop is not that easy these days. It’s a big challenge.”

The news that one of their own was becoming a bishop came as a shock to the family. “We were quite surprised,” said one of his nieces, Thi Nguyen, who attended the ordination and lives in the Toronto area.

“We were taken aback, and it took us some time to realize what a huge event this is. We’re really happy for him.”

Bishop Nguyen, who was ordained a priest in Vancouver, served in the area for 24 years before Pope Francis appointed him to head the Diocese of Kamloops.

“I thank my parents for nurturing my life and cultivating my faith,” Bishop Nguyen said during a banquet after his ordination.

“I am so grateful that my siblings practise their faith and are very supportive of my priesthood.”