Welcome to Our New Parochial Vicar

     Hello, my name is Fr. Joseph Nguyen. I am your new parochial vicar, and I look forward to serving you here at St. Joseph Cathedral.
     I am a local here of the Diocese of San Jose. I grew up in Santa Clara with my parents and my siblings, my older sister Elizabeth and younger brother Peter.
     I am also a product of our local Catholic schools. I first attended St. Martin’s Elementary School in Sunnyvale from Pre-K to 5th grade, then I went to St. Lawrence Middle School in Santa Clara from 6th to 8th grade, graduating in 2010. St. Lawrence was also my home parish. I was an altar server there for many years, and served under Fr. Ernesto after he was ordained to the priesthood and while he was pastor of St. Lawrence Parish. After this, I studied at Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose, competing it in 2014. In 2018 I graduated from the Franciscan University of Steubenville with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Sacred Music, and was a member of the Priestly Discernment Program there.
     I felt called to the priesthood from an early age, first thinking about it in elementary school. Throughout elementary, middle, and high school, I learned a lot about the faith from going to Mass, helping at retreats, and reading books and listening to Catholic radio. In addition, I also served as an assistant catechist, lector at Mass, and also played the organ and piano for Mass. After my time at Franciscan University, I felt called to enter the diocesan priesthood. I joined the Diocese of San Jose in 2018, going to Mundelein Seminary in Chicago into First Theology. I did my Internship Semester in the spring of 2020 at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Los Gatos under the supervision of Fr. Rick Rodoni. On June 5, 2021 I was ordained to the diaconate at St. Mary’s Parish in Gilroy, California. I graduated from Mundelein Seminary on May 7, 2022, receiving a Masters in Divinity and Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology. On May 28 this year I was ordained to the priesthood here at the Cathedral.
     Here are some more personal things about myself. My family is Vietnamese, so I can speak and understand some Vietnamese. I also learned Spanish in middle school and high school. Some of my hobbies include going on hikes, enjoying nature, listening to music, learning about history, and playing piano and pipe organ.
     Once more, I look forward to serving here at the Cathedral for my first assignment and becoming part of the parish family. I hope to be able to share with you all the gifts I have received. Please keep me in your prayers.