3 Volume 33 No. 1 | Autumn 2023 Society Matters Fr Tin Minh Trinh SVD ordained for life of missionary service The Divine Word Missionaries joyfully celebrated the Ordination to the Priesthood of Tin Minh Trinh SVD in November – and for the first time, the ordaining prelate was Bishop Tim Norton SVD, Auxiliary Bishop of Brisbane. The Ordination took place at St Christopher’s Parish, Syndal in Melbourne, where Tin has been serving as Deacon and featured contributions from the local Vietnamese community, in tribute to Tin’s home country. Tin’s parents and other members of his family were also present, having travelled from Vietnam and the United States. Bishop Tim, who was ordained a bishop earlier this year, congratulated Tin on choosing the Gospel reading from Matthew, where Jesus outlines what it means to be great: “Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant.” “How easily we ask for the wrong things, just as James and John and their mother did,” he said. “And how quickly we apply the world’s standards for leadership, particularly in Church. The Pope, bishops, religious, priests. We do the same as presidents and politicians. We apply those ideas of leadership. “So, I’m really happy you chose this gospel, as a reminder that authority, leadership, is a form of service. And that those who exercise it, must suffer. “The reign of God is actually built on this level of service. We set ourselves apart by the depth of our generosity of service. All of us.” Each of us, with the help of the Holy Spirit, must discern how God wants us to serve, said Bishop Tim. “Tin will serve as a priest. Others of you will serve as parents, aunts, uncles, workers, farmers, cleaners, teachers … so, greatness of spirit is in moving from being caught up in our own concerns and beginning to engage with the real needs of others.” Following the homily, the Rite of Ordination took place, with Bishop Tim placing his hands on Tin and anointing him, the litany of saints being sung over Tin lying prostrate on the floor and Tin making his promises to be a faithful priest. At the conclusion of the Mass, Tin delivered his thanksgiving speech. “First and foremost, I would like to say thanks to our God, who formed me, before I was born, I believe, and loved me unconditionally and supported me all the time,” he said. “I thank also especially, Mother Mary, the one I always come to, to pray when I am down, when I am sad. “And thanks to God for giving me my parents, my family … thank you very much for supporting me all the time, for being the first teachers, the first friends in my life.” Tin also thanked his SVD confreres and formators and all who had contributed to the ordination Mass. At the conclusion of the Mass, Provincial, Fr Asaeli Rass SVD announced to the congregation that Fr Tin’s first missionary assignment would be to Taiwan.
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