Priestly Ordination of Fr. Peter Nguyen Hoai Van, SDB

By Fr. Ambrose Pereira, SDB

       Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 9 August 2022 -- The Priestly Ordination of Fr Peter Nguyen Hoai Van, sdb was held on 6 August 2022 at the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians, Boroko. ‘Go into the world and preach the Gospel to all creation’, Mk 16:15 was his priestly motto.

       Bp Pedro Baquero Jr, SDB, Bishop of Kerema was the Ordaining prelate. He was joined by Fr Gregory Bicomong sdb, Provincial Superior of the Papua New Guinea vice province, Salesian and diocesan priests, religious, lay persons, and students. Several Vietnamese people also joined the celebration.

       In his homily, Bp Peter highlighted aspects from the Feast of the Transfiguration. He dwelt on: 1. The figures of the Old Testament, Moses and Elijah, the Law and the Prophets: 2. The Glorification of Jesus and 3. The need to ‘Listen to Him’. He then encouraged the newly ordained to be ‘a Man of God, a person of discernment, a man of prayer and to love Don Bosco’.

       The singing at the celebration was led by Don Bosco Technological Institute, Boroko. The processions at the entrance and the offertory were led by the Vietnamese community. They represented his parents and family who joined the celebrations via video link.

       The Newly ordained thanked the Lord for the Gift of the Priesthood. He expressed his gratitude to his parents for their silent sacrifice and unconditional love. He thanked the Couples for Christ choir, the Vietnamese community and all who have helped him follow the Call of Christ.

       The celebration concluded with group photographs of the different sections of people. A reception was later held at the Emmaus Conference Centre.

       Brief Background

       Peter Nguyen Hoai Van was born on 0ctober 10, 1982 in Daklak Province of Viet Nam to Peter Nguyen Sy Hao and Mary Hoang Thi Thanh. They are a family of 7 children, two girls and five boys, of which two have joined the Salesians of Don Bosco.

       Peter Nguyen completed his high school at Buon Ma Thuat in 2002 and his university studies from the Hanoi University of Information Technology in 2008. At the same time, he joined the aspirant in Dalat City. He made his first profession in Bathon community on August 14, 2011, and his Perpetual profession at the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Papua New Guinea on July 6, 2019. He was ordained Deacon at the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians, Paranaque, Philippines on June 11 2011.

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