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Fr. Joseph Hau Duc Tran: You are a priest forever

10/23/2021

6 Comments

 
Fr. Joseph Hau Duc Tran was born on May 19th, 1934, in French-controlled Vietnam.  He was educated in the French system, and left his native country at 19 years old in 1954 at the end of the war between France and Vietnam.  He spent the next four or so years with the Dominicans in Hong Kong, beginning his philosophy studies there, before being sent to Rome and France to continue his theology studies.
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Fr. Tran studied for his Doctorate in Sacred Theology in Rome, where seminarians were split into three groups — he was among those assigned to the Spanish group.  The Dominicans allowed for his ordination before his studies were finished, and so he was told to arrive at a certain basilica early on a Friday morning for his examinations, which were to be presided over by a cardinal.  His Eminence asked Fr. Tran a number of questions on philosophy and theology, which were to be answered in Latin; there were also a number of personal questions about ecclesiological ideas and languages spoken.  Soon enough, he was told to prepare for his pre-ordination retreat, and to be at St. Peter’s Basilica for July 2nd, 1961.

Fr. Tran says that he could talk at length about the ordination ceremony, about the papal liturgy of the time (which he says is not so different from how it is today), about how crowded the basilica was…  Yet, what impressed him most about the ordination was the morning of, where he and his fellow ordinandi were treated to special audience with St. John XXIII.  Fr. Tran was struck by the saint’s humility and accessibility.  He greeted each candidate personally and shook their hand; he looked very unofficial, as though he were just one priest among many brothers.  The rather rotund St. John XXIII also struck Fr. Tran with his impressive size and the presence that came with it, which seemed to chase away all fears.  Yes, indeed — St. John XXIII was truly “Il Buon Papa”, the Good Pope.

After obtaining his doctorate, Fr. Tran was sent to Manila in the Philippines to teach at the University of Santo Tomas, where he remained for 10 years.  This was followed by two years in France and Rome, and then to Los Angeles, where Cardinal Manning assigned him as assistant at Our Lady of Loretto Parish, and to work with Vietnamese refugees arriving to the United States.  He remained in California for 4 years before joining a cousin who was an associate priest in Illinois.  After his time as chaplain of the St. Francis Medical Centre in Peoria, Fr. Tran came to Canada.  Initially spending four years with Queen of Martyrs Vietnamese Parish in Edmonton, he was invited to Calgary to become administrator of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Bridgeland, and St. Francis of Assisi Parish downtown.

At this time, a number of parishes in the diocese of Calgary were being considered for closure, and Fr. Tran was concerned that his little church on Sixth Avenue was in its last days.  He wrote letters to the planning committee, asking for St. Francis to be kept open.  He invited Bishop Henry to preside over the next set of confirmations, and for a reception to be given.  This was the beginning of a fruitful relationship between Fr. Tran and Bishop Henry — after the reception, Bishop Henry informed Fr. Tran that his parish was not in danger of folding, and he was given the mandate to revive the parish to further serve the needs of the downtown community.  During his 19-year tenure at St. Francis, Fr. Tran advocated for the expansion of his little parish, including lobbying for a floor of The Bow to be given to St. Francis, which was unfortunately defeated, 7 to 6.  Due to his advancing age, Fr. Tran reluctantly retired in 2016, “only beginning to be fully alive”.

In my discussion with this well-travelled and well-seasoned man of God, it becomes apparent that Fr. Tran, like the saint who ordained him, has a very unique view of the Church, and its eternal nature.  “Nobody can say what the Church looks like — it is mysterious and yet human.  I have been a witness of the times, and I have been many places, the Church is changing all the time.  It is like a bouquet of flowers blooming, everlasting roses which are ever new… the Church is alive, impressive with tradition, but yet ever changing, ever new.”  At 88 years of age, Fr. Tran professes that each passing year only increases his loyalty to the Church, which is “something marvellous, something to be loved.”  His advice is that “we should let ourselves be led by our high goals”, and that “there is nothing to be worried about in the Church.”

Fr. Tran’s ordination motto is:  “You are a priest forever” (Psalm 110:4), which seems to have had some significance.  In my conversation with Fr. Tran, his understanding of the Christian life as being destined for eternity is truly a cornerstone.  “If He calls me away tonight, so be it — let His will be done.”  If not, then he will continue to do penance in this world.  But one thing is certain, Fr. Tran gives thanks to God for his sixty years of priesthood, “a marvellous blessing lasting to eternity.”
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Fr. Joseph Hau Duc Tran, OP
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Ordained:  July 2nd, 1961, St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome by St. John XXIII

Pastoral Placements in the Diocese of Calgary:
  • Administrator:  Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Calgary (1996-1997)
  • Pastor:  St. Francis of Assisi, Calgary (1997-2016)

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Written by Solomon Ip for Faithfully. Solomon is a born-and-raised Calgarian, who got letters after his name in Lethbridge. He worships at All Saints, Lethbridge; St. John the Evangelist, Calgary; and both the Calgary and Lethbridge chapters of the St. Francis Xavier Chaplaincy. He is an oboist by training, chorister by grace, hobby wordsmith, amateur calligrapher and museum enthusiast.
6 Comments
Rodolfo Alonzo
10/27/2021 09:36:35 pm

God Bless Father Joseph Hau Duc Tran he is a Great Prist
a Holy men of God,Congratulations Fr. Joseph Hou Duc Tran
on Your 60 Aniversary as a Prist may God give you long Life.

Reply
Arnel Arnaldo link
10/28/2021 10:03:16 am

Fr. Joseph is a great example of what a Good Shepherd of our Lord's flock should be. I've known him as our pastor at St. Francis Church, Calgary since we arrived in Canada in 2005 and he has shown a loving, tender and understanding heart to all his parishioners.

Reply
Melva, Nestor and Yvonne Dutallas
10/29/2021 01:55:51 pm

When we landed in Canada last 2009, we live in a condo beside St. Francis church in downtown. Fr. Joseph as we fondly call him was the parish priest of that little chapel which we as family came to celebrate with him the daily Holy Mass. My husband is his go to handyman person whenever he has something to fix inside the chapel. My daughter Yvonne assisted him in his computer and other technical issue and also she joined the choir too. We have pleasant memories with Fr. Joseph helping him prepare the Christmas gift every Christmas season, where he played as Santa Claus. We love Fr. Joseph! He is a very kind and generous person and we miss him too.

Reply
Jonathan Degouw
11/1/2021 01:39:29 pm

Father Joseph was the great priest, healer, and champion of the church. Because of his strong efforts of community building and genuine Love of people reaching out to people, welcoming and very generous to everyone around him. I Consider it a privilege and a gift to know Father Joseph he did much to enhance my spiritual life. I will admit He brought me back to the church and inspired me to be optimistic and hopeful about the future. After he retired, St. Francis Church was never the same. St Francis lost many parishioners who moved to different churches after Fr. Joseph retired. Regrettably we lost a True priest who took his service to the community very seriously very piously. The church retired him too soon.

Reply
Elaine Cerujano
11/12/2021 03:13:11 pm

If not for the extra ordinary efforts of Father Joseph to save St. Francis of Assisi Church from
being demolished, we as it’s parishioners would have been deprived of easy access and source of spiritual nourishment a long time ago. Through the years of Father Joseph’s stewardhip, I had the chance to witness his unique and effective way of drawing people to church both through traditional and non conventional way but both were rooted in generousity and love for his flock. With these traits, he introduced few traditions like monthly birthday celebrations where he blessed the celebrants from the congregation after each weekend mass and everyone shared birthday cakes after. After every mass he stayed outside in front of the church, shaking hands with the parishioners and posing for photos to those who asked for it. Christmas eve is always a festive event where we had Children Nativity play before the mass and after the mass he put on Santa’s suit with the altar servers as his elves. He gave away presents to all parishioners which he wrapped himself while the choirs were singing Christmas carols. If that was not an act of generousity, then I don’t know what it was. During Holy Thursday, not only did he wash the feet of the disciples, he even went extra mile by kissing their feet just like Jesus did.

His act of giving continued even before he retired - he handled over certificates of appreciation to all church volunteers. He also gave all parishioners prayer book called the Keys of Heaven.

Father Joseph loves children. Every child in the congregation who wanted to serve as altar servers are welcome. During the Lord’s Prayer, Father Joseph invited all the altar servers in the altar with him and holding hands facing the congregation they sang the Lord’s prayer. Afterwards, the altar servers shook hands with the congregation- during the peace offering part.

I can go on and on - but if there is one tradition that tops it all is his inspiring and contagious devotion to our Blessed Virgin Mary. He formed the novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help after Wednesday noon mass with Adoration to the Blessed Sacrament. This remarkably filled the church with devotees. Wow! This definitely became his legacy.

Thank you, Father Joseph for being a big part of my spiritual journey. For sure, I will meet other priests in the future, but the two decades of serving at St. Francis under your stewardhip will always be a special memory I will forever treasure. Thank you for being a good shepherd to St. Francis and a very good friend to my whole family.
We love you Father and we’re always praying for your good health and safety. God bless.

Reply
Elaine Cerujano
11/12/2021 03:22:25 pm

If not for the extra ordinary efforts of Father Joseph to save St. Francis of Assisi Church from
being demolished, we as it’s parishioners would have been deprived of easy access and source of spiritual nourishment a long time ago. Through the years of Father Joseph’s stewardhip, I had the chance to witness his unique and effective way of drawing people to church both through traditional and non conventional way but both were rooted in generousity and love for his flock. With these traits, he introduced few traditions like monthly birthday celebrations where he blessed the celebrants from the congregation after each weekend mass and everyone shared birthday cakes after. After every mass he stayed outside in front of the church, shaking hands with the parishioners and posing for photos to those who asked for it. Christmas eve is always a festive event where we had Children Nativity play before the mass and after the mass he put on Santa’s suit with the altar servers as his elves. He gave away presents to all parishioners which he wrapped himself while the choirs were singing Christmas carols. If that was not an act of generousity, then I don’t know what it was. During Holy Thursday, not only did he wash the feet of the disciples, he even went extra mile by kissing their feet just like Jesus did.

His act of giving continued even before he retired - he handled over certificates of appreciation to all church volunteers. He also gave all parishioners prayer book called the Keys of Heaven.

Father Joseph loves children. Every child in the congregation who wanted to serve as altar servers are welcome. During the Lord’s Prayer, Father Joseph invited all the altar servers in the altar with him and holding hands facing the congregation they sang the Lord’s prayer. Afterwards, the altar servers shook hands with the congregation- during the peace offering part.

I can go on and on - but if there is one tradition that tops it all is his inspiring and contagious devotion to our Blessed Virgin Mary. He formed the novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help after Wednesday noon mass with Adoration to the Blessed Sacrament. This remarkably filled the church with devotees. Wow! This definitely became his legacy.

Thank you, Father Joseph for being a big part of my spiritual journey. For sure, I will meet other priests in the future, but the two decades of serving at St. Francis under your stewardhip will always be a special memory I will forever treasure. Thank you for being a good shepherd to st Francis and a very good friend to my whole family.
We love you Father and we’re always praying for your good health and safety. God bless.

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