austraLasia - 4952_"Lord, you know everything, you know that I love you!" (John 21,17)

Vietnamese Salesian missionary priest ordained

in Chaco Paraguay

Chaco Paraguay, Paraguay, 15 December 2018 -- The priestly ordination of Peter Nguyen Anh Duy, Salesian missionary from Vietnam, was celebrated on Saturday, 15 December, in the open gym of the parish of San Ramón Nonato, Puerto Casado in Chaco Paraguay - PARAGUAY.

During the deeply felt emotional celebration at which the Bishop of Chaco, Gabriel Narciso Carlos Escobar, SDB presided, another 10 Salesian priests concelebrated, including the SDB Provincial of Paraguay Fr Mario Villalba.

The thanksgiving Mass was celebrated on Sunday, 16 December at 8 AM in the Parish of Puerto Casado. With Fr Peter the Salesian Vicariate now has one more missionary priest and the whole Catholic community rejoices.

The most emotional moment came at the end of the celebration, after a Vietnamese hymn sung by the new priest and his family members when Fr Peter addressed his parents in Vietnamese. They were moved to the tears.

Fr Mario Villalba, SDB Provincial of Paraguay, announced that Fr Duy, on his return from his family visit to his homeland, will be assigned to the community and mission parish of Puerto Casado. At the same time Father Provincial invited the families gathered for the celebration to allow their sons and daughters to work together with the Catholic community and work for more vocations from Chaco young people.

Bishop Carlos Escobar used his FB to invite everyone to pray for the perseverance of the new priest in this challenging missionary situation: 'Chaco means sacrifice, effort, constancy, perseverance and much love at the service of the People of God."

Fr Peter has chosen for his Salesian priestly ministry the motto from John 21:17: "Lord, you know everything, you know that I love you!" (John 2:17). We pray for more workers in the vineyard of Chaco, one of the most difficult missionary zones in Latin America.

The Vicariate of Chaco Paraguay was established 70 years ago in 1948. In a large territory of 96,000 square kms, with a population of 26,500, 80% are Catholics and 6000 are indigenous people. The Apostolic Vicariate has no asphalt roads, and rivers are the best transport routes. Chaco is divided into 8 parishes, served by 7 SDB priests and 15 religious sisters (majority are FMA).

Website SDB: