THE beautiful chapel of Salesian College in Pallaskenry provided the setting of the ordination of Fr Tran Hien Vincent (Fr Vinh).
Ordained a priest by Bishop Brendan Leahy, Fr Vinh’ journey began in the Highland of South Vietnam in 1984. After secondary school he went to university and graduated with a degree in Business Administration.
After working for some years, he became fascinated by the life story of St John Bosco, founder of the Salesian Congregation, and his work for poor boys in Turin. This invited Fr Vinh to change his life’s course and he applied to join the Salesian Congregation.
After two years working with poor, often homeless youngsters in Ho Chi Minh City he was accepted into the Congregation. After his philosophical studies he applied to become a missionary.
Learning English was a necessity for working outside of Vietnam, and so in 2016 he arrived in Ireland to study English. While studying English he spent some time working in Salesian College Celbridge. During this time he decided that Ireland was his missionary destination.
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He proceeded to Maynooth to undertake his theological studies and graduated with a degree in Theology. At present he works as part of the Chaplaincy team in Salesian College, Pallaskenry.
His parents and relatives from Vietnam as well as members of the Vietnamese Community in Dublin were among those who attended his ordination.
