From Orange County Breeze
The Most Rev. Kevin Vann, Bishop of Orange, will ordain three men as Catholic priests on Saturday, June 7, at 10: 30 a.m., at St. Columban Church (10801 Stanford Ave., Garden Grove).
Diocese of Orange Bishop Kevin Vann. (Orange County Breeze)
“These new priests are a blessing from God and a gift to our Diocese. Their ministry will be vital to our Church because of the gifts and talents they bring to the ministry, as well as their ability to assist in serving the growing number of Catholics in Orange County,” said Bishop Vann.
The ordination class is composed of Rev. John Duy Nguyen, Rev. Charles Tran and Rev. William Goldin.
This class represents the cultural diversity and the multicultural ministry that are the hallmarks of the Diocese of Orange. The Diocese has enjoyed sustained growth since its founding in 1976, expanding from around 330,000 Catholics at its founding to more than 1.2 million Catholics currently. With this growth has come an increased need for not only infrastructure but priests to care for the spiritual needs of this quickly growing community of faith. The three new priests will join more than 180 other Diocesan priests that serve the needs of the 62 parishes and Catholic centers throughout Orange County.
The two Vietnamese-American seminarians who will be ordained reflect the changing face of the priesthood in the United States. Within the United States, more Asian-Americans are attending seminary schools at a time when fewer Anglo-American Catholics are expressing interest in the priesthood. Asian-American priests continue to fill the ranks of the priesthood at a higher rate than that of any other ethnic groups within the Diocese of Orange and the nation. This ethnic group makes up just 1 percent of the Catholic Church within the United States, but they comprise 10 percent of those being ordained across the nation in 2014, according to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University. This trend is even more pronounced in Orange County given that the highest concentration of Vietnamese outside of Vietnam reside in the area.
There is another significant trend in the composition of the American priesthood: the median age of those being ordained as Catholic priests has gradually increased over time, with the median age of the 2014 ordination classes across the nation reaching 32 years of age. Many newly ordained priests have had a great deal of education, work and life experiences prior to discerning the priesthood. These additional gifts are considered of great benefit to their priestly formation and eventual work as faithful counselors and spiritual guides within their parish communities.
“This is a very positive and hopeful time for our Diocese. We celebrate the faith and commitment of these new priests as they begin their ministry to the people of Orange County. We are blessed to have such a diverse and dynamic group of dedicated ordinands in service to God’s people,” said Bishop Vann.
Read the full story from Orange County Breeze.
