Joseph Phuong Nguyen (Vietnamese: Giuse Nguyễn Thế Phương; born March 25, 1957), is a Vietnamese-born Canadian Catholic prelate who has served as Bishop of Kamloops since 2016.[4] He was previously vicar general for the Archdiocese of Vancouver.[5]
Background
Nguyễn 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
Nguyen 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
Nguyen was ordained as a priest in Holy Rosary Cathedral on May 30, 1992.[6]
Current affairs
On June 1, 2016, Pope Francis appointed Nguyen as the Bishop for the Diocese of Kamloops.
References
- ^ "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.
