Joseph Phuong Nguyen, also known as Joseph Nguyễn Thế Phương (Vietnamese: Giuse Nguyễn Thế Phương; born March 25, 1957), is a Canadian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. On June 1, 2016, Nguyen became the Bishop-elect of the Diocese of Kamloops.[4] Prior to his appointment, Nguyen held the post of Vicar General for the Archdiocese of Vancouver, second to Archbishop Miller.[5]
Joseph Phuong Nguyen | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Kamloops | |
 | |
| Native name | Giuse Nguyễn Thế Phương |
| Church | Catholic |
| Province | Vancouver |
| See | Kamloops |
| Appointed | June 1, 2016 |
| Installed | August 25, 2016 |
| Predecessor | David Monroe |
| Previous post(s) |
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| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 30, 1992 by Adam Exner |
| Consecration | August 25, 2016 by J. Michael Miller |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 25, 1957 |
| Nationality | Vietnamese Canadian |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Residence | Kamloops |
| Motto | State in Domino (English: Stand firm in the Lord) (Vietnamese: Đứng vững trong Chúa)[1] |
| Coat of arms |  |
Ordination history of Joseph Phuong Nguyen | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Source(s):[2][3] | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Styles of Joseph Nguyễn Thế Phương | |
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| Reference style | The Most Reverend |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Your Excellency |
Background
editNguyễn Thế Phương was born in Vietnam on March 27, 1957. He experienced growing up in a communist country that restricted the faith of its citizens. Nguyen became a minor seminarian at age 11. When the communist government took control of Catholic institutions, Nguyen continued to live out his office and was imprisoned multiple times for training catechists.[5]
Emigration
editNguyen realized that there would be no opportunity to be ordained a priest in Vietnam and secretly attempted to flee the country, nearly losing his life in the process. He was captured and imprisoned by the government, suffering torture and malnutrition from the hands of his oppressors. He escaped but was shortly thereafter injured in an auto accident, remaining in a coma for several months in the Philippines. He came to Canada in 1987 as a refugee and studied English as a second language, eventually being accepted at the Seminary of Christ the King in Mission.[5][6]
Ordination
editNguyen was ordained as a priest in Holy Rosary Cathedral on May 30, 1992.[6]
Current affairs
editOn June 1, 2016, Pope Francis appointed Nguyen as the Bishop for the Diocese of Kamloops.
References
edit- ^ "Bishop Nguyen Coat of Arms". Roman Catholic Diocese of Kamloops. Archived from the original on January 10, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
- ^ "Testimonies: Fr. Joseph Phuong Nguyen". RCAV.org. Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver. Archived from the original on July 16, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
- ^ Krawczynski, Agnieszka (September 14, 2016). "Joyful, reverent priest takes bishop's seat". Prairie Messenger. Archived from the original on January 10, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
- ^ Cheney, David M. "Father Joseph Phuong Nguyen [Catholic-Hierarchy]". catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
- ^ a b c "Pope Francis names new bishop for Kamloops". rcav.org. Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver. Archived from the original on July 7, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
- ^ a b Krawczynski, Agnieszka (June 1, 2016). "Father Joseph Nguyen to become Bishop of Kamloops". The B.C. Catholic. Archived from the original on July 1, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2016.