The Passionists welcomed a new priest in their ranks recently when Joachim Pham Quang Vinh CP was ordained at the Vietnamese Catholic Community, Pooraka, South Australia, reports The Southern Cross.
Fr Vinh, who was ordained by Adelaide Archbishop Patrick O’Regan, was born and raised in southern Vietnam in the parish of Vinh Ha, Ba Ria Diocese, in a family deeply rooted in the Christian faith.
Fr Joachim Pham Quang Vinh CP at his ordination. PHOTO: The Southern Cross.
The youngest of five children, his mother Anna Nugyen Thi Thanh died in 2015 and his father Joachim Pham Quang Y died in 2021.
“Although my parents have gone to God, I always feel their loving care watching over me,” Fr Vinh said.
He completed primary and secondary education in Ba Ria – Vung Tau before pursuing a degree in information technology at Ba Ria – Vung Tau University. Studying close to home allowed him to spend precious time living near his family and relatives.
In 2013 he began discerning with the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ in Vietnam and entered formation.
After studying philosophy at the Dominican Institute in mid-2018 Fr Vinh travelled to Australia to begin the pre-novitiate program and study English at the English Language School for Pastoral Ministry (ELSPM) in Box Hill, Victoria. A year later, he completed his novitiate at the Passionist International Novitiate in South Australia.
He made his first profession on July 4, 2020, before returning to Vietnam to continue his theological studies.
From 2020 to 2024, Fr Vinh studied theology at St Joseph Jesuit Institute.
He made his perpetual profession in the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ on August 10 2023.
On July 13 2024, he was ordained a deacon through the laying on of hands by Bishop Joseph Tran Van Toan, Bishop of Long Xuyen Diocese.
He then served at the St Gabriel, Our Lady of Sorrows Community in Saigon and on May 20, 2025, he was assigned to pastoral ministry at St Paul the Apostle parish in Endeavour Hills, Victoria.
Since October 1 last year he has been serving in the Vietnamese Catholic Community at Pooraka.
This article by Jenny Brinkworth was published in The Southern Cross, the publication of the Archdiocese of Adelaide.