Seminarian Vinh Nguyen is ordained to the transitional diaconate by Bishop James Ruggieri.

The Diocese of Portland celebrated the ordination of Vinh Nguyen to the transitional diaconate on Saturday, June 13, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland.

Transitional deacons are men who are discerning for the priesthood, but being ordained a deacon, the third rank of Holy Orders, is more than just a step on that journey.

“I feel so blessed. This will change my life forever,” said Nguyen, following the ordination Mass.

“Vinh, today the Church does not ask you simply to become a useful man, an active man, or a man with religious tasks to perform. The Church asks you to become a ‘man of communion.’ Communion with Christ is the source. Communion with the Church is where the ordained live it out. Communion expressed in charity is the fruit of your communion with Christ,” Bishop James Ruggeri told Nguyen in his homily. "Remain in communion with Christ. Let personal prayer, the Eucharist, the Gospel, obedience, and the needs of God's people keep your open. Then, your ministry will not become stagnant or self-enclosed. It will become fruitful."

A deacon’s ministry is threefold: the ministry of the word, the ministry of the altar, and the ministry of service. Deacons can share the Gospel, assist priests and bishops at the altar, and are committed to following the example of Christ the servant.

“As a deacon, that is, as a minister of Jesus Christ, who appeared in the midst of the disciples as one who serves, do the will of God in charity from the heart; serve others with joy as you would serve the Lord,” the bishop said. 

During the ordination Mass, Msgr. Andrew Dubois, director of the Office of Seminarians, attested to Nguyen’s readiness for ordination. Nguyen than made the promises of the elect, resolving to be consecrated for the ministry of the Church through the laying on of hands and the gift of the Holy Spirit, to discharge with humble charity the office of the diaconate, to hold fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience, to proclaim the faith by word and deed according to the Gospel, to commit to a life of celibacy, to increase his spirit of prayer, and to conform his manner of life to the example of Christ.

Nguyen then promised respect and obedience to the bishop and his successors, after which he lay prostrate while the Litany of Saints was sung.

“When I laid my hands on the floor, [I thought] I will die to myself and give myself to the Church and to God,” said Nguyen.

Bishop Ruggieri then laid hands on Nguyen in silence.

“It’s powerful. That is the moment the Holy Spirit came down upon me,” said Nguyen.

The bishop prayed the Prayer of Ordination, asking the Lord to look favorably upon Nguyen and to “send forth the Holy Spirit upon him” so that he “may be strengthened by the gift of your sevenfold grace to carry out faithfully the work of the ministry.”

Now ordained, Deacon Nguyen was vested with the stole and dalmatic, symbols of the diaconate, by Deacon Peter Bernier. The bishop then handed him the Book of the Gospels, instructing him to “believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.”

The bishop and all the deacons present then welcomed Nguyen with the fraternal kiss of peace.

As a deacon, Deacon Nguyen said he is eager to begin serving the people of God.

“For a deacon, it’s a call to serve. So hopefully, during my deacon year, I will serve well the people of God,” he said.

Deacon Nguyen said he is especially looking forward to baptisms and to preaching the word of God. Deacons can also bless marriages and lead funeral services outside of Mass.

Deacon Nguyen is originally from Vietnam, where he grew up in a devout Catholic family. He said he was especially inspired by his great uncle, who was a beloved priest in the Diocese of Vinh.

Before pursuing the priesthood, Deacon Nguyen said he received a degree in graphic design and worked for an advertising company.

He said he was always active in the Church, however, and when his bishop learned that he was discerning a vocation to the priesthood, the bishop approached him about going to the United States. In Vietnam, the number of priests in formation is limited by the government.

After prayerful consideration, Nguyen said he agreed, arriving in the United States in December 2016 to first study English. He was then accepted as a seminarian for the Diocese of Portland and has been studying at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland.