Just a few days out from his ordination to the priesthood, Deacon Hien Vu says he is nervous but ready to become an instrument of God through his priestly ministry.
“I am thrilled and open to receiving the grace of ordination,” he said.
“I feel a bit nervous, but I pray that, with God's help, I can be a good priest, a good instrument of God to His people, a priest after Christ's own heart.”
Hien’s ordination on Saturday will be the first ordination for a priest for the Diocese of Broken Bay since 2021, when Fr Roger Delmonte, Fr Sam French, and Fr Aldrin Valdehueza were ordained by Bishop Anthony Randazzo.
Throughout the past few months, Deacon Hien has been serving at the Hornsby Cathedral Parish, preaching during Masses and assisting in the pastoral work of the Parish.
“I have involved myself in various aspects of parish life,” he said. “The best part has been getting to know people and accompanying them in and out of my ministry as a deacon. I’ve made a good number of friends! I enjoyed preaching at Mass. I also dedicated time to teaching at schools, leading small prayer groups and gatherings.”
He said chanting the Exsultet, a proclamation delivered before the paschal candle during the Easter Vigil, has been the highlight of his time as a Deacon. “It was an amazing experience,” he said.
He said working alongside the priests of the parish had been invaluable in confirming his calling and preparing for the priesthood.
“The diaconate, involving both preaching the Word and serving at the altar, has really prepared me for the proclamation of the Gospels and has also given me the opportunity to lead people in prayer,” he said.
His ordination on Saturday will be the culmination of a long journey to the priesthood, which began in rural southeast Vietnam.
Hien was born in 1988 in the town of Thong Nhat in the Province of Dong Nai, Vietnam. After pursuing a career in accountancy, he joined the seminary of the Diocese of Xuan Loc in August 2013.
He transferred to the Diocese of Broken Bay and was received into the Seminary of the Good Shepherd, Homebush in July 2016 as a student for the Diocese. Over his time in the Diocese he has enjoyed many pastoral placements at Chatswood, Kincumber, Gosford, Waitara, North Harbour, Wyong and most extensively at Epping & Carlingford, where he enjoyed pastoral placement throughout 2021.
He was ordained as a Deacon on Friday, 24 November 2023, the Feast of the Vietnamese Martyrs, by Bishop Anthony Randazzo at St Leonard’s Church, Naremburn.
While he doesn’t know where his first assignment as a priest will take him, he said he was excited to serve the people of Broken Bay wherever he was called.
“My desire as a priest is to lead others in praise and worship to God,” said Deacon Hien.
“I want to encourage people to use their gifts and talents and to foster a sense of unity and harmony in the parish.”
Deacon Hien will be ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Broken Bay by Bishop Anthony Randazzo on Saturday, 24 August at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Waitara.