The Congregation for Bishops
and the Archdiocese of Melbourne
have announced the appointment of
Fr. VINCENT VAN LONG NGUYEN
the present Assistant General for FAAMC
Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Melbourne, Australia
Friar Vincent was born in Gia Kiem, Vietnam, on December 3, 1961, and made temporary profession on December 8, 1984. He made Solemn Vows on January 14, 1989, and was ordained to the Priesthood on December 30, 1989. Fra Vincent served as a Pastor for many years, and was the General Custos of Australia from October 2005 until his election as Assistant General of the FAAMC Federation on September 21, 2010.
The Episcopal Ordination is scheduled for Thursday, June 23, 2011in the Cathedral of Melbourne, Australia.
In the name of the Minister General, his Definitory, and all the Friars of the Order, best wishes and the promise of a fraternal accompaniment in prayer.
Friar Vincent Marcoli
Secretary General
From Boat Person To Catholic Bishop
Friday 20 May 2011
A Vietnamese refugee who came to Australia in a refugee boat has been appointed a Catholic Bishop in the Archdiocese of Melbourne. Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen was 18 years old when he, and his family, fled communism in 1980.
The Apostolic Nunciature in Australia advised Archbishop Denis Hart yesterday that Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Fr Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFM Conv as Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Melbourne.
Welcoming the appointment, Archbishop Denis Hart said today: "The appointment of Bishop Vincent as auxiliary in Melbourne is a historic one. He escaped from Vietnam by boat as a young man, came to Melbourne, joined the Conventual Franciscans, and has already given distinguished service as a pastor in Springvale, as a leader in his order and has made a generous and gifted contribution to the Church.”
“We welcome him warmly as he returns from Rome, and look forward to his ordination as Titular bishop of Tula in St Patrick's Cathedral on Thursday 23 June at 7.30pm. He is in our prayers at this important moment."
After the fall of Saigon, three brothers settled in Holland, a sister is still in Vietnam and his parents and a brother and a sister are in Melbourne.
In 1983, Bishop Nguyen became a Conventual Franciscan friar and studied for the priesthood in Melbourne.
After his priestly ordination on 30 December 1989, he was sent to Rome for further studies and was awarded a licentiate in Christology and Spirituality from the Pontifical Faculty of St Bonaventure.
He served as a parish priest for 4 years in Kellyville NSW and for 7 years in Springvale.
He was elected superior of the Order of Friars Minor Conventuals in Australia in 2005.
Since 2008, he has been in Rome serving as Assistant General, responsible for the Asia-Oceania section of order.
The Bishop returns to Melbourne from Rome at the end of May.