Three Vietnamese-born deacons for priesthood ... Escaped Reds by boat, Catholic Leader, Brisbane, 12 November 1995, p 7:

Escaping to Malaysia from the communists in Vietnam by boat seven years ago was Deacon Nguyen Van Huong's final step in getting to Australia.

Between 28 October 1983, when he was ordained a deacon in Vinhlong Seminary, and 1988, he had asked the communist authorities three times for permission to be ordained, but they refused.

He has waited 12 years since then to become a priest.

"The idea of being a priest has always been with me," he said, "even as a child, but it was only in the final years of minor seminary that I really started to seriously consider what was entailed in a priestly vocation.

"My call to the priesthood seems to have been a very quiet process. I think I can best describe it as being a conviction that grew stronger each day. Still, I think many people encouraged me in my vocation. As a child my father and sisters, three of whom are diocesan nuns, thought I would be a good Church worker because I enjoyed being an altar boy and a member of the school choir.

"It never occurred to me that I would one day serve God in the Australian Church. My time here has been a very happy one and the people have been very friendly and helpful towards me."

Deacon Huong has been doing pastoral work in St Peter's, Caboolture parish, from which he comes to ordination. He is the fifth of six sons in a family of 11. His father died in 1978. His mother is 90, living in Vietnam with the family, so he has no relatives in Australia.

Deacon Huong studied at St Philip minor seminary of Vinhlong Seminary from 1961-70. From then until 1975 he studied at Vinhlong Regional Seminary, run by the French priests of St Sulpice. He had two years of "pastoral placement" between 1973 and 1975.

"On 30 April 1975 the arrival of the communists meant it became very difficult for Catholics to openly practise their religion," he said.

"I remained in the seminary three more years doing part-time study.

"I worked half a day each day in the rice field."

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Faith tested in fire, Catholic Leader, Brisbane, 26 November 1995, p 1:

Three former Vietnamese refugees have been ordained as priests for the archdiocese of Brisbane in what Church officials described as a "unique and historic ceremony" in St Stephen's Cathedral.

The Rev Joseph Vo Van Hien, the Rev Nguyen Van Huong and the Rev Nguyen Van Vinh were ordained by Archbishop John Bathersby who was assisted by auxiliary Bishops John Gerry, James Cuskelly and Michael Putney. [...]

Nguyen Van Huong, 49, was born in Ben Tre in South Vietnam. He entered a seminary in the Vinh Long Diocese in 1960 before spending a further nine years studying at the St Sulpice seminary. In October 1983 he was ordained a deacon. He spent nearly a year in a Malaysian refugee camp before coming to Australia. He has been working at St Peter's parish, Caboolture, since the beginning of the year.

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Archdiocese of Brisbane, Facebook post, 30 October 2025:

Sadly, we have recently lost two beloved priests who faithfully served the Archdiocese of Brisbane.

Fr Van Huong Nguyen died on October 26. Throughout his ministry, Fr Nguyen generously served the parishes of Caboolture, Burleigh Heads, Redcliffe, Surfers Paradise, Sunnybank, Southport, Grovely, Samford and Mitchelton. He also provided compassionate support as a chaplain at The Prince Charles Hospital and St Vincent’s Northside.

[...]

Please keep both priests in your prayers, that they may rest in the eternal peace of Christ and that their ministry may bear eternal fruit.

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Brisbane priest Fr Van Huong Nguyen dies age 76, remembered for his care of the sick and dying, by Joe Higgins, Catholic Leader, Brisbane, 30 October 2025, https://catholicleader.com.au/news/qld/brisbane-priest-fr-van-huong-nguyen-dies-age-76-remembered-for-his-care-of-the-sick-and-dying/, accessed 1 November 2025:

Brisbane priest Fr Van Huong Nguyen died suddenly aged 76 on Sunday, October 26.

“Fr Huong was a truly holy man whose life was a beacon of faith and compassion,” Grovely-Samford and Mitchelton parish priest Fr Nigel Sequeira said in a message to his parish.

“He was an associate pastor in our parish on two different occasions and he dedicated a significant part of his ministry to tending to the sick and the dying through his work as hospital chaplain.

“His presence brought immense comfort, spiritual guidance and peace to countless patients and their families during their most difficult times.

“He was a tremendous help to me as a parish priest.

“He will be profoundly missed by all who knew him.”

Fr Nguyen served in the parishes of Caboolture, Burleigh Heads, Redcliffe, Surfers Paradise, Sunnybank, Southport, Grovely, Samford and Mitchelton, and also assisted as a supply chaplain at The Prince Charles Hospital and St Vincent’s Northside.

“He is affectionately remembered in these communities and was much loved by his family and many friends,” a message from archdiocesan leadership said.

Surfers Paradise parish manager Sonya Slater said Fr Nguyen had a gift for making everyone feel welcome.

“He shared his love of music, often heard by the staff in the afternoon as he played a number of instruments,” she said.

“As one of the first Vietnamese priests to serve in the Archdiocese, Fr Huong held a special place in the hearts of visiting Vietnamese Catholics, who were overjoyed to meet one of their own while on holiday in Surfers Paradise.

“His presence was a bridge between cultures, a testament to the universal language of faith and love.”

She said his passing left a deep sadness but his legacy of love and service would continue to inspire their parish.

“Fr Huong will be deeply missed – remembered not only as a devoted priest, but as a friend, a mentor, and a true embodiment of Christ’s love,” she said.

In 2020, Fr Nguyen was interviewed by The Catholic Leader on his 25th anniversary of priesthood.

He said he was ordained a transitional deacon in 1983 and had to wait 12 years to be ordained a priest because of barriers put up by the Vietnamese Communist Government.

“Normally the transitional deacon is only six months, but for me it was a long time, 12 years,” Fr Nguyen said.

“So for five years I worked in Vietnam, I escaped in 1988.

“I was 40 years old when I left Vietnam.”

He ended up at a refugee camp in Malaysia but was only detained for one year.

“A priest, a Redemptorist priest, Australian, he went around the camp looking for vocations for Australia,” Fr Nguyen said.

“He picked me up in Malaysia and the Vietnamese from Sydney sponsored me.”

When he arrived in Sydney in 1989, Fr Nguyen decided he would try to make it up to Brisbane and eventually become a priest there.

After three years in Sydney, Fr Nguyen arrived in Brisbane in 1993.

In November of 1995, 12 years after becoming a deacon, he was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Brisbane by the late Archbishop John Bathersby.

Fr Nguyen said throughout his lengthy wait, he never doubted his calling to the priesthood, but learnt that in extreme cases, it is a long journey.

“So we need to pass it with patience, not lose heart,” Fr Nguyen said.

“We walk for God and sacrifice everything to help people.

“Our vocation is joy but sometimes we suffer a lot.”

Fr Nguyen’s Funeral Mass will be held at St Stephen’s Cathedral on November 5 at 10am.

He will be cremated and his ashes will be placed in the columbarium at St William’s Church, Grovely.

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Death notice, Courier Mail, Brisbane, 1 November 2025:

Nguyen, Reverend Fr Van Huong
Priest of the Archdiocese of Brisbane. Late of Mitchelton
Archbishop Shane Mackinlay invites the Clergy, Religious and people of the Archdiocese of Brisbane, and all relatives and friends to participate in a Funeral Mass for Father Van Huong Nguyen to be celebrated at the Cathedral of St Stephen, Elizabeth St, Brisbane on Wednesday, 5th November at 10.00am.
A Vigil will be celebrated at Our Lady of Dolour’s Church, 11 Suez St, Mitchelton at 6.00pm on Tuesday, 4th November. A viewing will commence from 5.00pm. Died 26/10/2025.

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Funeral brochure, 5 November 2025:
Father Mark Van Huong Nguyen

Fr Van Huong Nguyen was born on 8 April 1949 in Ben Tre, Vietnam, to Peter Nguyen Van Tuoi and Maria Nguyen Thi Lanh. He is the second youngest among eleven siblings and is survived by his sister Nguyen Thi Ngoi (91 years old) and brother, Nguyen Phuoc Khanh (72 years old).

During his schooling years, Huong attended primary school at the Catholic Parish School of Caimon, Vinh Long Diocese of Vietnam and for his secondary schooling he attended St Philip Minh Minor Seminary, Vinh Long Diocese, Vietnam. Following this, Huong entered Vinh Long Major Seminary, Vietnam to begin his formation for priestly ordination.

In 1983 Fr Huong was ordained a Transitional Deacon for his home diocese but his priestly ordination, along with others, was blocked by the Vietnamese Communist government. As a result, Fr Huong was forced to put his vocation on hold and to find employment outside of the ministry.

In 1988, Fr Huong escaped Vietnam and ended up in a refugee camp in Malaysia. Fr Huong recalled that through divine intervention, he was only detained for one year. This was due to an Australian Redemptorist priest visiting the camp in search for vocations. According to Fr Huong, the priest picked him up in Malaysia and the Vietnamese from Sydney sponsored him to come to Australia.

After three years in Sydney, Fr Huong moved to Brisbane in 1993 where he spent time in the Pius XII Provincial Seminary in Banyo. His first appointment as a Deacon was at St Peter's Parish, Caboolture where he served until his ordination to the priesthood on 18th November 1995.

Following this he served as an Assistant Priest in the parishes of Burleigh Heads, Redcliffe, Surfers Paradise, Sunnybank, Southport, Grovely, Samford and Mitchelton, and also assisted as a supply chaplain at The Prince Charles Hospital and St Vincent's Northside.

In 2023, Fr Huong retired but provided regular supply to the Grovely Parish. Fr Huong will be remembered as a priest who had a great sense of humour and a deep dedication to his ministry. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.