Welcome, Father Truyen Nguyen

A note from our new Parochial Vicar...
I am Rev. Truyen Nguyen. I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself as your new Parochial Vicar. I was born in Saigon, Vietnam, in 1971. I am the seventh son of ten children in my family. I have six older brothers, one younger brother, and two sisters. All my siblings are married except my second youngest sister who passed away when she was 18 months old.

After the fall of Saigon, my father and two oldest brothers fled Vietnam by boat to Malaysia in 1976. Nine months later they were sponsored by my father’s friend to Dallas, Texas. Then they moved to San Jose in 1978. In 1981 my two other older brothers also escaped Vietnam by boat to Bidong, Galang, and my father was able to take them over to the United States about a year later. Finally, on September 30, 1990, my family was able to be reunited again after 14 years of separation.

In 1989, after I graduated from Nguyen Thai Binh High School in Saigon, Vietnam, I began to think about studying to become a priest, but it took me five years to make that desire come true. In 1994, I applied to study for the Diocese of San Jose and was sent to St. Francis de Sales, San Diego, for college seminary. Four years later I entered St. Patrick’s Seminary, Menlo Park. I was ordained to the Priesthood on May 31, 2003. My first assignment was at St. Catherine of Alexandria, Morgan Hill. My second assignment was at St. Elizabeth, Milpitas. I am completing my assignment at St. Patrick Proto-Cathedral, Downtown San Jose.

My hobbies include reading, watching movies and listening to music; I love to play guitar and sing; I really enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, biking and camping; and the sports that I like to play are volleyball, bowling and table tennis.

St. Martin of Tours Parish will be my fourth assignment as a Parochial Vicar. My first official day will be July 8, 2010, and I am really looking forward to being here and sharing the life of God’s grace with all of you. I remember a month ago when making my first visit here, Fr. Chris introduced me to many staff, and I felt very welcomed. It was a very good first impression of what is in store for me here at St. Martin of Tours.

Thank you very much!
Father Truyen

Farewell, Father Jojo

Father Joselito Page has been transferred to St. John the Baptist Parish in Milpitas, after having served two years at St. Martin's Parish. His last Sunday masses at St. Martin's were on May 29th and 30th. For photos of Fr. Jojo's Farewell Celebration and last days at St. Martin's Parish, click here for a photo slideshow. We wish Fr. Jojo all the best on his new assignment.