FORMER REFUGEE FR MINH-THUY NGUYEN ANNOUNCED AS NEW VICAR FOR CLERGY
By Jamie O'Brien
Thornlie Parish Priest Fr Minh Thuy has been announced as the new Episcopal Vicar for Clergy.
In making the announcement, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe said he is excited about this new chapter in the life of the Archdiocese.
“Providing a high level of support to our priests is a key element in the passing on of the faith to our people, and with Fr Minh-Thuy as Episcopal Vicar for Clergy I am confident we will be able to continue and strengthen our efforts in supporting our clergy across the Archdiocese in their life and mission of service to the Church,” Archbishop Costelloe said.
“This is a pivotal moment in the life of the Archdiocese, and I am very pleased Fr Minh-Thuy has accepted to take on this very important ministry.
“I invite all our priests and the
Archdiocese to welcome him and support him in his new ministry,” he said.
Fr Minh-Thuy’s appointment comes following the retirement of former Vicar for Clergy Fr Brian McKenna.
The role of the Episcopal Vicar for Clergy is central to supporting clergy practically as well as spiritually.
Born in Saigon, South Vietnam, 4 December 1958, Fr Minh Thuy is the middle child of five children to Nghiem Nguyen and Tuoi Nguyen (nee Nguyen).
After commencing his study at La Salle Brothers College in Saigon, Fr Minh Thuy continued his secondary education at St Phillip Minh College, which was also a minor seminary where he undertook seven years of formation towards the priesthood aged 19.
However, in 1979, Fr Minh Thuy was forced underground – including being chased and shot at - by the Communists who were determined to make him join the army to invade Cambodia and Laos.
His father, who was in the army of the previous government and the director of a bank before 1975, had already been imprisoned in 1977 and his two older brothers had been recruited to the army prior to the Communists took control of South Vietnam in April 1975.
The next two years were spent living without any identification, constantly trying to avoid being captured, moving from house to house.
In April 1981, a 22-year-old Minh Thuy made the decision to flee Vietnam by boat in a vessel which was only 13 metres long, together with another 78 people, including some 30 young children.
They spent the next five days and five nights drifting on the Pacific Ocean until they were rescued by a German supply ship.
Fr Minh-Thuy says he remembers feeling scared and hopeless.
“Even after I escaped, I wondered if I would die,” he recalled.
“Those five days and five nights in the Pacific Ocean were the longest of my life,” he said.
The boat was brought to Pulau Bidong Island in Malaysia where Fr Minh Thuy stayed for one month before being accepted to go to Australia.
It was Holy Week, and Fr Minh Thuy says arriving in Pulau Bidong gave him hope for the beginning of a new life.
Arriving in Perth at the end of 29 August 1981, Minh Thuy commenced a course to learn English, while working part-time as a gardener and cleaner.
New Vicar for Clergy Fr Minh Thuy. PHOTO: MICHELLE TAN.
ST MARY’S CATHEDRAL LAUNCH THEIR MODERN SLAVERY PROJECT
St Mary’s Cathedral Parish has last weekend launched their Modern Slavery Project after the evening Mass.
Cathedral Dean Rev Dr Sean Fernandez the Project is important because it invites the parish to respond to the social ill of modern slavery by taking a very practical step.
“We will be investigating our own supply chains to identify where there might be risk,” Fr Sean explained. The Project will run until the end of the year and during that time, the Cathedral Parish will review its procurement policy, host several faith formation and social education sessions as well as a morning tea introducing Fairtrade products.
“We need to ensure that the way we act as a Catholic community is consonant with our belief in the dignity of each person. We do not want to support structures which exploit or enslave our brothers and sisters,” Fr Sean concluded.
The launch of the Project last week Saturday 11 February included a sausage sizzle on the lawns of the Cathedral hosted by the St Mary’s Cathedral Parish Pastoral Council.
Tony Meyrick, the Liaison Officer for the duration of the Project said the parish has already undertake a significant amount of work in planning this project across the year and are keen to see it through to its completion.
“It is a good that we can do, and I believe it’s a good we should do,”
Mr Meyrick said.
Cathedral Manager, Victor Hoa, said he is glad the parish has signed on to this Project
“I believe it will also assist in the faith maturation and individual personal growth of our community. It’s a winwin for all involved,” Mr Hoa said.
Grace Kurniawan, WACMRO Officer working with St Mary’s on the project, observed that the data on forced labour in our region and here in
Australia is clear.
“The impact on victims and their families is heart-wrenching. I think St Marys’ is undertaking a very important step by responding to the issue in such an efficient and effective way,” Ms Kurniawan said.
WACMRO Director, Dcn Greg Lowe, noted that despite a relatively small procurement spend, St Mary’s have decided to combat modern slavery by ensuring they don’t contribute to it.
“They should be commended for this considered act of neighbourly love,” Deacon Greg said.
If your parish is interested in signing on to the Parish Modern Slavery Project, please contact Grace Kurniawan wacmro@perthcatholic.org.au or visit: wacmro.perthcatholic.org.au
The Cathedral Modern Slavery Project is a collaboration between St Mary’s Cathedral Parish and the West Australian Catholic Migrant & Refugee Office, WACMRO.
Catholic Education WA Acting Executive Director Wayne Bull with Year 12 graduates of 2022 from Catholic schools who were recognised as Catholic Education WA’s highest achievers for 2022 at a special ceremony celebrating academic excellence. PHOTO: SUPPLIED / CEWA.
BISHOP SPROXTON CELEBRATES MILESTONE BIRTHDAY
Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton has last week celebrated his 70th Birthday.
Bishop Sproxton is the elder of the two children of Henry Sproxton and Thelma, Bishop Sproxton was born at St John of God Hospital, Subiaco, Western Australia on 7
February 1953.
His family lived in Bayswater where he commenced his primary education at St Columba's School in 1959. The family moved to Morley in 1963 at the time that he continued his primary schooling at Christian Brothers High School, Bedford. In
1970, he completed his secondary education at CBHS, Highgate.
Bishop Sproxton was elected by Pope John Paul II to the episcopacy in December 2001 and ordained a bishop on 21 February 2002 at St Mary's Cathedral, Perth by Archbishop Hickey. The co-consecrators were Bishop Justin Bianchini of Geraldton and Bishop Robert Healy, Emeritus Auxiliary Bishop of Perth.
Bishop Sproxton also celebrated his 45th Anniversary of Ordination on Saturday 17 December with Mass for the Missa de Gallo in St Gerard’s Mirrabooka.
This traditional Dawn Mass of the Filipino community has been held in the parish for thirty-three years in the nine days leading to Christmas Day. While this tradition commenced with former Parish Priest, Fr Geoff Aldous, Bishop Don has been celebrating his Ordination Anniversary at this Mass for thirty years.
On behalf of the whole Archdiocese, congratulations on this magnificent milestone Bishop Don!
NOTRE DAME GRADUATES AMONG THE MOST JOB-READY IN THE COUNTRY
and overall employment.
The University of Notre Dame Australia has once again ranked as one of the top universities in the country for undergraduate employment outcomes.
The latest Graduate Outcomes Survey (GOS), released this week
by the Federal Government, reveals that the University has considerably improved its performance for undergraduate employment in 2022 – rising to be the fourth best performing university in the country in full-time employment.
The number of undergraduates securing full-time employment has risen by more than 8 percent to 85.5 per cent in 2022.
Meanwhile the number of undergraduates in overall employment has also improved, with the University lifting its standing to be the fifth best performing university in the country.
The overall employment rate for undergraduates increased from 89.4 per cent in 2021 to 91.4 per cent in 2022.
The University of Notre Dame is
delighted to be ranked as the top performing university in WA for both full-time and overall employment.
The University is ranked fourth in New South Wales for full-time employment and third for overall employment.
Vice Chancellor Professor Francis Campbell said the results reflected the University’s holistic student centric approach to education and ongoing commitment to real-world learning.
“Our students are sought after by employers because of our strong focus on practical experience, as well as our goal of educating and forming the whole person to help them achieve their full potential,” Professor Campbell said.
Bishop Sproxton celebrated his 70th Birthday last week 7 February while in Fiji for the 2023 Federation of Bishops Conferences Oceania Assembly. PHOTO: NEIL HELMORE.
The University of Notre Dame is delighted to be ranked as the top performing university in WA for both full-time
PHOTO: SUPPLIED / UNDA.
AMAZON HELPS VINNIES SUPPLY 1000 STUDENTS WITH BACK-TO-SCHOOL ESSENTIALS
For the third year in a row, Amazon Australia is assisting the St Vincent de Paul Society to provide another 1,000 Australian students with back-to-school essentials for the start of first term 2023.
Items include stationery, lunchboxes and drink bottles.
The collaboration is focused on some of the families the Society knows are struggling with household expenses.
St Vincent de Paul Society National President Claire Victory said as the rapidly rising cost of living drives more people closer to the edge, the generosity of Amazon Australia will help many families.
“It’s really pleasing to be helping another 1,000 students get what
they need to participate and learn.
“This campaign has now helped 3,000 children around Australia. It’s a great initiative and it’s fantastic that Amazon Australia is maintaining its strong commitment to families doing it tough,” Ms Victory added said.
“Amazon’s support in Australia is part of our commitment to providing much-needed assistance to local communities where our employees live and work,” Amazon Australia Director of Operations, MindyEspidio Garcia, said.
“Amazon is proud to once again partner with the St Vincent de Paul Society to support families with a range of back-to-school items, packed by the team at our Moorebank fulfilment centre in
Sydney.
“The start of the school year is an important time for every child, and every child deserves the opportunity to thrive. We hope this offers some assistance for parents setting their kids up for a successful 2023.”
The St Vincent de Paul Society is distributing the back-to-school packs direct to families in need via its extensive membership network.
“Donations like these allow the St Vincent de Paul Society to provide people in need, specifically children, with practical assistance,” Ms Victory added.
“We’re very grateful to Amazon Australia for continuing this campaign for three years,” she said.
For the third year in a row, Amazon Australia is assisting the St Vincent de Paul Society to provide another 1,000 Australian students with back-to-school essentials for the start of first term 2023. PHOTO: SVDP / SUPPLIED.