A native of Vietnam, Father Nguyen was ordained on July 7, 1960 and served several dioceses and parishes in his 58 years as a priest, remembered as a gentle, faithful priest who enjoyed music, died December 14, 2018. He was 86.
His devotion to the Sacred Liturgy was edifying to the people. His extraordinary talent in music gave to the Liturgy a most profound enhancement.
He was a very kind man. He worked effectively with the people young and old. He communicated on every level and he had a wonderful sense of community, he had a most personal dedication to the sick.
1960 to 1967: Father Nguyen taught French literature, Latin and music in St. Joseph Seminary in Saigon.
1968 to 1971: Father Nguyen was a student in Louvain Catholic University in Belgium.
1972 to 1975: Father Nguyen was a student at C.U.A, where he received his degree of Master of Music. He was a resident priest in Epiphany Church in Georgetown, Washington DC.
1975 to 1976: Father Nguyen supervised the settling program of the Vietnamese Refugees in Washington DC
1976 to 1983: Father Nguyen came from Vietnam to work in the Diocese of Rockville Centre in New York. He served as assistant in the Parish of St. Christopher’s in Baldwin, Long Island. He created a choir of 70 members from zero.
In July 5, 1983, Father Nguyen came to the Archdiocese of Miami and was assigned as an associate Pastor at St. Thomas More Parish, Boynton Beach, and as part-time faculty member at St. Vincent the Paul Regional Seminary.
In June 18, 1985, Father Nguyen was assigned to St. Clare Parish, North Palm Beach at the Diocese of Palm Beach.
April 25, 1989 to March 1, 1997, Father Nguyen was a Parochial Vicar at Sacred Heart Parish, in Lake Worth. In March 2, 1997 he was appointed as a Parochial Administrator Pro -Tempore and October 1, 1997 Father Nguyen was appointed Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Lake Worth.
Father Peter Van Nguyen was incardinated in the Diocese of Palm Beach on Friday, May 17, 1991 by Most Reverend J. Keith Symons, Bishop of Palm Beach.
January 8, 1994 to December 31, 2000 Father Nguyen was a member of the Diocesan Vocation Admission Committee, in September 1, 1999 he was also a member of the Liturgical Commission of the diocese of Palm Beach.
October 10, 2007 Father Nguyen retired as a Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish and was conferred the title of Pastor Emeritus of Sacred Heart Parish, Lake Worth by most Reverend Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito, Bishop of Palm Beach. Father Nguyen was appointed as a Parochial Vicar of Ascension Parish, Boca Raton.
October 17, 2007, Father Nguyen was appointed as a Chaplain of Knights of Columbus.
August 31, 2017 Father Nguyen was transfer to Lourdes Noreen Mckeen Residence.
Public viewing and visitation on Thursday, December 20, 2018 from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM at Quattlebaum Funeral Home, 6411 Parker Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33405.
Private viewing and service for the Vietnamese community immediately following from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
A Funeral Mass will be on Friday, December 21, 2018 at 11:00 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 425 N. “M” Street, Lake Worth, FL 33460.
Burial following at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery, 10941 Southern Boulevard, Royal Palm Beach.
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