By Fr. Joseph Nguyen
I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to Bishop Emeritus William Franklin of Davenport, Bishop Robert Gruss of South Dakota, and Father Chuck Adam of Davenport for accepting me to be a seminarian of the Diocese of Davenport.
My sincere thanks go to Father Marty Goetz, who was my vocation director and patiently nurtured my vocation of priesthood, and special thanks to Bishop Martin Amos, who ordained me to the priesthood.
Thanks to Father Ken Kuntz, pastor of Prince of Peace Parish in Clinton; Father Rich Adam, pastor of Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport; and Father Tony Herold, pastor of St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Davenport, where I served as parochial vicar. All of the lessons and examples I learned from all of you are and will be significant for my priestly ministry.
Thanks to my diocesan brother priests and deacons for your support and prayers. Thanks to all staff members at the Chancery as well as all the staffs at the parishes where I have served and who have helped and cooperated in my ministry of serving God and his people. With all the faithful of God, you will always remain in my heart.
I wish to express many thanks to Bishop Amos for allowing me to continue performing my priesthood ministry in the Diocese of Buffalo, N.Y. I would like to write the words PRIESTHOOD MINISTRY in capital letters because I want to emphasize the importance of their meaning. For me, it is a sacred vocation we receive from Jesus Christ, and not merely a job. We need to perform our ministry of priesthood with our passion, and not just emotions. The vocation to serve in priesthood ministry is to be ready to live and to die serving in that ministry.
Please keep me in your prayers. Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hands.
