tvc.dsj.org | August 20, 2019
IN THE DIOCESE
5
A Few Minutes with Father Hao Dinh, New Vicar General for the Diocese of San José
Last Spring, Bishop Patrick J. Mc-
Grath, along with Co-adjutor Bishop
Oscar Cantú, appointed Father Hao
Dinh Pastor of the Church of the As-
cension in Saratoga and Vicar General
for the Diocese of San José.
Father Dinh took some time to an-
swer some questions about both of his
new positions.
On the list of clergy appointments
this year, there are some priests hold-
ing positions in the Diocesan Curia.
What is the Diocesan Curia?
In plain language, it’s the Central
Administrative Offices of the Dio-
cese. It is composed of departments
and persons who assist the Diocesan
Bishop in governing and caring for the
entire Diocese. On a higher level, the
Roman Curia assists the Pope in the
exercise of his jurisdiction over the
Roman Catholic Church. There are
about ninety people working in our
Diocesan Curia, commonly known
as the Chancery. Their work, largely
behind the scenes, supports the min-
istry in parishes and schools across the
Diocese. The Diocesan Curia in many
mission countries today, or in most of
the world prior to the Second Vatican
Council, simply consists of a Bishop
and a handful of priests: vicar general,
chancellor, judicial vicar, secretary,
treasurer.
What are the roles of the Vicars?
The Diocesan Bishop is assisted
by many vicars or deputies, whose
services are limited to a region of the
diocese (vicar forane or dean), or to a
type of activity (vicar for evangeliza-
Ladies of Charity
BBQ Fundraiser
Ladies of Charity will host a benefit
for Sacred Heart Nativity Schools on
September 15 at 5 p.m. at Redwood
Grove, Saratoga Springs 22801 Big
Basin Way, Saratoga. The BBQ dinner
will include appetizers, dessert, and
refreshments. There also will be a silent
auction, raffle, line dancing, and more.
Ladies of Charity is proud to dedi-
cate its energies for the benefit of Sacred
Heart Nativity Schools in San José com-
prised of Sacred Heart Nativity School
for Boys and Our Lady of Grace School
for Girls Proceeds from the event
will help “break the cycle of poverty
through education.” Ladies of Charity
is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization.
Father Hao Dinh, Vicar General
tion, vicar for interreligious affairs).
There are also vicars serving the faith-
ful of a particular rite (in India there
may be three rituals in one diocese),
or certain groups of people (vicar for
clergy, vicar for ethnic ministries). The
vicar general is the Diocesan Bishop’s
principal deputy, assisting the Bishop
in the governance of the entire diocese
and acting on his behalf when needed.
Many vicars general also serve as
moderator of the Curia, supervising
the day-to-day work of the Curia and
coordinating the ministries and ser-
vices of the Diocese. In some dioceses,
including our own, the chief opera-
tions officer or equivalent oversees the
administrative and operational func-
tions of the diocesan offices.
What do you hope to achieve in
your new role as Vicar General?
When I was a seminarian and then
a deacon at Saint Christopher Parish
in 1992-1993, I regularly saw Mon-
signor Norman Allen, the parish’s
retired pastor. At the time I did not
know he was the first vicar general
of our Diocese while serving as pas-
tor of that parish. I was impressed by
his kindness and pastoral sensitivity.
Now I am called to serve at both the
diocesan and parish levels like him.
It’s a dual assignment demanding
full, not fifty-fifty, dedication to both.
It’s possible, thanks to modern com-
munication means. From this vantage
point I have come to appreciate the
scope of our Bishop’s responsibilities
and at the same time live in the reality
of parish life.
I hope that, besides my duties
in the Diocesan offices, I will have
several chances to con nect wit h
parishes and schools and provide
helpful input to decisions made at
the Diocesan level. A key part of this
Diocese-parish connection is to listen
attentively, to be aware of what’s go-
ing on in our communities of faith,
education institutions, and agencies. I
have more to say about what I hope to
achieve, especially in faith formation
and evangelization, but it will be for
another occasion.
W hat has it been like working
with Bishop Cantú so far?
I am still new in my Diocesan posi-
tion and in my working relationship
with him, yet I am impressed by his
amazing ability to listen attentively
and patiently. He did it even at parish
receptions where he at times stayed
to the end. It’s gratifying to know that
you are listened to, which seems to be
rare these days when a lot of people
have no patience in listening - even for
one minute-without being distracted
or interrupting the one who speaks.
Listening is only the beginning; the
Bishop is open to different ideas, to
input that may differ from his own
opinion. He values what others have
to say or to offer, and seeks to come up
with the optimal or the best possible
solution under the circumstances. I’m
honored to work with him for the mis-
sion of our local Church.
Do you have a favorite Saint or
Scripture reading that you of ten
refer to?
In my youth I read several stories
of saints and admired many among
them, for example, Dominic Savio,
who desired to become a priest but
lived and died as a saint at the age
of 14. Saint Joseph, my patron saint
from baptism, is another. What he left
behind is not words, but deeds, yet his
deeds speak volumes about him. He
listened to what God had to say and
put it into pratice (obedience literally
means to listen). I was surprised that
Bishop Cantú picked me to be his vicar
general. He said to me that ours is the
God of surprises. I hope I am open to
God every day, ready to be surprised
by his holy will, to be enriched by his
presence in all persons and all things.
I look to Saint Joseph as a role model
in this regard, asking him to intercede
for me every day.
One quote from Psalm 27, “The
Lord is my light and my salvation,”
and the story of the two disciples en-
countering the risen Lord on the way
to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35), resonate
with me. They describe my experience
in a long and at times dark (because
of the upheaval in Vietnam) but re-
warding journey to the priesthood
that began 50 years ago. My journey
continues, and the Light is still on!