Tan Nguyen, 27

First assignment: St. Elizabeth Seton, Orland Hills

Education: St. Mary School and Greensburg Community High School, Greensburg, Ind; Northwestern University, Evanston

Parents: Gioc Phan and Nang Van Nguyen

First Mass: 5:30 p.m. May 18 at St. Ita Church, Chicago

Tan Nguyen’s journey to the priesthood began around the time of his family’s exodus from South Vietnam. It was near the end of the Vietnam War and the Communist takeover of the country.

“It was God’s grace working through the universal church,” said Nguyen.

“I am told the church was encouraging everyone—not just Catholics— to leave the country before the Communist takeover. My family listened. They made plans to leave and at about the same time, an Indiana family agreed to sponsor us. It was an unbelievable gift.”

Nguyen went to school in Indiana and then to Northwestern University. He took classes in social justice, tutored children and worked at St. Francis Hospital.

“The culmination of my journey to the priesthood occurred when I decided not to work in the field of hard sciences,” he said. “I looked at the Jesuit community but its members tend to move around. I wanted firmer roots.

Nguyen worked at Holy Rosary Parish (113th & King Drive) for a while. He then decided to enter the archdiocese’s seminary.

“Looking back, I realize family and friends all saw me in the priesthood before I did. They would say, ‘You’d make a good priest.’ “

Nguyen sees part of his future ministry working in the seminary, teaching or doing formation work. He also wants to work with the physically challenged.

“I contracted polio when I came to the United States,” he said. “It gives me strength to minister to the disabled.”

Nguyen says the current abuse scandal in the church will only strengthen his conviction to the priesthood.

“I will face it head on and try to be a good priest for the people,” he said. “There are just a few [priests] who have fallen. Our moral conviction holds us to a higher standard.”

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