Sep 18, 2023
On September 13, 2023, Reverend Mr. Joseph Huynh Van Ngoc of San Jose, California was called home by God at 92 years of age.
Born on January 26, 1931, Joseph spent his early childhood with his parents in his birthplace of Hoai An, Binh Dinh, Viet Nam. From the time he was a young boy until early adulthood, he received his education at St. Joseph Institute de Petit Freres de St. Joseph in Kim Chau, BinhDinh, Viet Nam. After serving as a teacher and a catechist for a year in Ban-Me-Thuot, he spent the next 20 years as a school principal, working in a bank, and in the social and refugee services. Throughout this period, Joseph faithfully served The Lord through his work in The Catholic Charities, Caritas, CARE and within the local parish where he was recognized as Chairman of the Parish Council at Dong Tien, Quy Nhon.
This time of dedicated service in Quy Nhon was interrupted by the Vietnam War during which Joseph and his young family fled their homeland. In May of 1975, the family arrived in Singapore and by God’s grace, eventually established their new home in Decorah, Iowa, USA on October 20, 1975.
Joseph proved a diligent student and after only six months of English language study at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, he began his ministry to the refugee population of Iowa which spanned 25 years. During the first ten years, he faithfully served the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Des Moines assisting in the resettlement of Southeast Asian refugees. In the later 15 years, he was a dedicated civil servant within the Department of Human Services (DHS) in the Bureau of Refugee Services (BRS).
On October 4, 1986, Joseph was ordained as a Permanent Deacon and assigned to St. Ambrose Cathedral in Des Moines, Iowa. Deacon Huynh was most proud of the great number of refugees who subsequently converted to the Catholic faith, undoubtedly influenced by Joseph’s own living testimony.
After his retirement from the DHS in 1999, Deacon Joseph and his wife moved to San Jose, California to be closer to their adult children and many grandchildren. He was incarnated to San Jose Diocese and assigned to St. Patrick Proto Cathedral (currently Our Lady of La Vang). Here, he spent over 20 years in joyful service to his community. A lifelong devout and steadfast Catholic, Joseph’s legacy remains the countless hearts he has touched and the lives he has influenced throughout the world, especially in Vietnam, Iowa, and California. He is greatly beloved and will be deeply mourned.
Joseph was a devoted husband and loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. His family was the source of immeasurable pride and happiness. He relished his role as patriarch of this joyous and affectionate clan. Joseph is survived by his adoring wife, Thu Thi Le, and his loving children, Thu, Mai (Hoa Nguyen), Xuan (Van Pham), Quang (Marie-Anne), Minh (Pamela), and Dung (Matthew Lanzdorf). He is preceded in death by a daughter, Thu, and a son, Khoa (Xuan). He leaves ten grandchildren, Samantha (Alex), Andrew, Nathaniel, Jonathan, Julia, Aidan, Kaitlyn, Sarah, Emily and Kate, and a great-granddaughter, Sophie.
Jeremiah 9:23-24
This is what the Lord says:
Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,
but let him who boasts boast about this:
That he understands and knows me
2 Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day
While Joseph was a humble man not known to boast, he dedicated the entirety of his life to the understanding and knowing of God. Well done, Joseph Huynh, good and faithful servant. You have fought the good fight. You have finished the race. You have kept the faith. Receive from the Lord your crown of righteousness.
The family will receive mourners, family and friends, on Thursday, September 28, 2023 from 1 – 2 pm PDT at Vietnamese Martyrs Chapel, 685 Singleton Road, San Jose, CA 95111 for viewing and visitation. Masses for the Repose of the Soul and parish prayer sessions to follow from 2 – 7 pm PDT.
Funeral mass will be celebrated by the Bishop of the Diocese of San Jose, The Most Reverend Oscar Cantu on Friday, September 29, 2023 at 11 am PDT at St. Maria Goretti Church, 2980 Senter Road, San Jose, CA 95111. Directly following mass, the late Deacon Joseph Huynh Van Ngoc will be interred at Gate of Heaven Cemetery
Sep 18, 2023
It is with deep sadness that I inform you about the passing of Maria de Jesus Cantú (Durón), mother of Bishop Oscar Cantú, who entered eternal life on Monday, September 18, 2023 in Houston, TX.
Maria de Jesus was born on January 11, 1934, in Villa Aldama, a small town on the outskirts of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. She is the third of six siblings, Josefina +, Jose +, Pedro + Alicia + and Mague. She married Ramiro Cantú + and together formed a beautiful family of eight children: Leticia, Ramiro, Luciano, Maria, Oscar, Nancy, Ricardo, and Juan.
Maria de Jesus, who was lovingly called Mary, was a pious woman and devoted to the Virgin of Guadalupe. She dedicated herself to the ministry of the Hispanic community at her parish, Holy Name Church in the near northside of Houston, Texas. Her husband, Ramiro, worked as a machinist. Together, they saw their children grow up and taught them with faith, hard work, and love. Maria led a very active and committed life in her parish, helping everyone who needed it. She and her husband belonged to the Christian Family Movement and celebrated family with great pride.
Maria dedicated her life to her eight children, many grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She mentored countless young women who moved into the parish community. Her wisdom inspired anyone who asked her for advice and maintained a healthy sense of humor.
Her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family are infinitely grateful for your prayers and expressions of condolences. May Maria rest in peace with the Lord.
A vigil service will be celebrated Friday, September 22, 6:00 p.m., at Holy Name Catholic Church, Houston, Texas.
The Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, September 23 at 10:00 a.m. at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston, Texas (1111 St Joseph Pkwy, Houston, TX 77002)
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Con profunda tristeza les informamos sobre el fallecimiento de María de Jesús Cantú (Durón), madre del Obispo Oscar Cantú, quien nació a la vida eterna el Lunes, 18 de Septiembre, 2023 en Houston, TX.
Maria de Jesus nació el 11 de enero de 1934 en Villa Aldama, un pequeño pueblo en las afueras de Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, México. Es la tercera de seis hermanos, Josefina+, Jose+, Maria+, Pedro+ Alicia+ y Mague. Contrajo matrimonio con Ramiro Cantu y formaron una hermosa familia de ocho hijos: Leticia, Ramiro, Luciano, Maria, Oscar, Nancy, Ricardo, y Juan.
Maria de Jesus, a quien cariñosamente le decían Mary, fue una mujer piadosa y devota de la Virgen de Guadalupe. Entregada al ministerio de la comunidad hispana en su parroquia del Santo Nombre (Holy Name Parish) en la ciudad de Houston, TX. Su esposo, Ramiro, trabajaba como operario de maquina haciendo herramienta especial. Juntos vieron crecer a sus hijos y los educaban con fe, disciplina, y amor. Mary llevaba una vida muy activa y comprometida en su parroquia, ayudando a toda persona que lo necesitaba. Maria y Ramiro pertenecían al Movimiento Familiar Cristiano y celebraban con mucho orgullo a la familia.
Maria dedico su vida a sus ocho hijos, muchos nietos y bisnietos. Acompañaba con amistad a las mujeres nuevas en la parroquia, para que se sintieran en casa. Mantenía siempre un buen sentido del humor y con sabias palabras y poemas, inspiraba a todo aquel que le pidiera un consejo.
Sus hijos, nietos, bisnietos y demás familia agradecen infinitamente sus oraciones y muestras de condolencias. Que descanse en Paz la mama Pajarita que feliz vio volar alto a su hermosa descendencia.
¡Descanse en Paz!
La vigilia se celebrara el viernes, 22 septiembre, a las 6:00 p.m., en Holy Name Catholic Church, Houston, Texas.
La Misa de Exequias será celebrada el sábado 23 de septiembre a las 10:00 de la mañana el Co-Catedral del Sagrado Corazón en Houston, Texas (The Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart ) 1111 St Joseph Pkwy, Houston, TX 77002.
