Hien Vu has become the newest Deacon for the Diocese of Broken Bay, as he continues his journey towards priestly ordination.
Hien was ordained to the Order of Deacons by Bishop Anthony Randazzo, in a packed St Leonard’s Church, Naremburn on Friday, 25 November.
Led in by his brother seminarians and flanked by deacons from the Diocese of Broken Bay and beyond, Hien took his final steps down the aisle as a lay person, awaiting the laying on of hands from his Bishop.
The ordination was held on the Memorial of the Martyrs of Vietnam, commemorating those who faced persecution, torture and death in Vietnam during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a day that served as an inspiration to the Vietnamese-born Hien.
While many of his family were unable to attend the ordination in person, they were all tuned into the livestream of the event, with the Church of Broken Bay and Vietnam connected in celebration.
Following his homily, Bishop Randazzo laid hands upon Hien, gifting him the sacrament of Holy Orders and ordaining him to the Order of Deacons. After this, Hien was vested with the stole and dalmatic, marking him as a Deacon of the Church, before he accompanied Bishop Randazzo to the altar, to assist with preparing the offering of bread and wine for the first time.
The Mass was concelebrated by dozens of priests from across Broken Bay and beyond, including Hien’s formators, Fr Michael de Stoop and Fr Paul Durkin, rector and vice-rector, respectively, at the Seminary of the Good Shepherd.
At the conclusion of the Mass, Hien thanked God for his calling to ordination and the Blessed Virgin Mary for affirming his vocation. He also thanked those gathered for sharing in the celebration and all those who made the day possible.
He also shared a special thank you in Vietnamese to his family watching from overseas on live stream, including his parents and siblings.
He concluded by asking for all the people of Broken Bay to accompany his ministry with their prayers.
“People often asked me how they should address me after ordination,” Hien said.
“I say, for you, I am a deacon, but with you, I am a Christian. Our fundamental call as Christians is to be saints. To the people of Broken Bay, may I ask you continue to pray with me and help me to be a good, holy and faithful Deacon. Thank you and God bless you all.”
Hien will serve the Diocese of Broken Bay as a Deacon for the next year before hopefully taking the final step in his vocational journey, when he is ordained a priest.