Fr. Joseph Tinh Nguyen was born on April 25, 1931, in Vinh Ha Parish, Diocese of Phat Diem, Vietnam. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 29, 1957, at the Cathedral of Lyon, France. The Lord called him home at 12:24 AM on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Garden Grove, California. He was 94 years old.
Fr. Joseph entered Phuc Nhac Seminary at a young age and was known for his intelligence and devout character. Recognizing his potential, Bishop Thaddeus Le Huu Tu selected him to pursue studies in Europe from 1950 to 1972.
- 1950–1953: Studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome
- 1953–1958: Continued studies at the Institut Catholique de Lyon and in Paris
After his ordination, he pursued advanced studies in physics while also engaging in pastoral ministry:
- 1957–1958: Chaplain to Vietnamese students in France and Germany
- 1958–1960: Studied at the University of Sorbonne, France
- 1960–1971: Earned a Doctorate in Physics from the University of Bonn, West Germany
- 1971–1973: Professor at the University of Bonn; pastoral ministry in France and Germany
- 1973–1975: Lecturer at Phu Tho Institute of Technology, Saigon, Vietnam
- 1975–1988: Incardinated into the Diocese of San José; served the Vietnamese Catholic community
- 1980–1983: Founding President of the Federation of Vietnamese Catholics in the USA
- 1988–2005: Pastoral ministry in Germany
- 2005–2025: Retired
Fr. Joseph is survived by many nieces and nephews residing in both Northern and Southern California, as well as in Vietnam.
A Mass of the Resurrection will be held at Our Lady of La Vang Church on May 22, 2025 at 10:00 AM, followed by burial at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in the priests’ section on the same day.
May his soul rest in peace.