It was a Monday morning in January, 2016, when I called Fr. Ray, the Rector of the Divine Word Missionaries in Bordentown, NJ.  Even though I was not planning to go on my annual retreat until the end of March, I was calling Fr. Ray to see if one of the retired priests there would be able to cover the daily Masses when I was away.  I have known Fr. Ray since I was a deacon at Corpus Christi in Willingboro, so we were also doing some catching up.  

After telling me that he would check about getting someone to cover for me when I was on retreat, I have jokingly said, “And if you getting any new retired guys who are looking for a place to help on weekend, keep me in mind.”  Fr. Ray paused a moment, and said, “Well, I don’t have a retired guy, but I have a young Vietnamese priest who is interested in helping in a parish.

That afternoon I met Fr. Vinh Trinh, SVD for the first time.  He was living with his confreres in Bordentown while serving a small community of Vietnamese Catholics.  Since that group only had one Mass a week, on a Sunday afternoon, Fr. Vinny was looking to help someplace.  Quickly I sensed he had a good sense of humor, and thought he would be a good weekend assistant.

I was planning on having an “overnight” procedure that Thursday, so Fr. Vinh was going to start that weekend, just covering one Mass each weekend.  As we all know, my simple “overnight” procedure was anything but, and I was a month in the hospital and another two months home recuperating.  Fr. Vinh got more than he bargained for.

I cannot express just how grateful I am to Fr. Vinny.  He essentially ran the parish for the three months I was out.  He might not have done all the Masses, but he made sure all the Masses were covered.  He accepted a woman into full Communion with the Catholic Church just two weeks after getting here, and he beautifully covered all the Holy Week services (despite Deacons Bill and Dan almost setting him on fire at the Easter Vigil). After my return, Fr. Vinny continued to be a great help to me and the parish.  We have all enjoyed his jokes and stories.

But as they say, “all good things must come to an end,” and Fr. Vinny has informed me that his Religious Community is assigning him to study Spanish for a year in Mexico, before assigning him to one of their parishes in either the southern United States or California.  Fr. Vinny never liked the cold, New Jersey winters so I am sure that he will be happy in the warmer south.

Like happens so often in religious life, his move is happening quickly; he is going to Chicago to speak with his Provincial this weekend, and will be heading to Mexico soon after.  I would have wished for us to have a farewell gathering for him, but there is no time.  Please join me in thanking Fr. Vinh for all that he has done for Resurrection Parish, and in praying that his new ministry will fill him with many of God’s blessings.