Ceremonial ordination: Father Thomas Pham and the Vietnamese community

Ceremonial ordination: Father Thomas Pham and the Vietnamese community

Last Saturday, in the monastery church of the merciful brothers in Vienna-Leopoldstadt, an important event took place: Cardinal Christoph Schönborn consecrated Father Thomas Pham to priest. This ceremony was not only important for Father Thomas, but also presented an important moment for the Vietnamese community, which had appeared in large numbers.

Father Thomas Pham was born in Vietnam in 1982 and joined the Order of the Merciful Brothers in 2004. During his time in the order, he lived in Graz and passed his eternal profession in 2014. After training as a nurse, he deepened his knowledge of studying theology in 2019. Since April 2023 he has been a prior to the Viennese convention of the order, which makes its consecration even more meaningful.

cornerstone of faith and the care

In his sermon during the ordination, Cardinal Schönborn spoke about the central theme of the resurrection, which is indispensable for the Christian faith. "Without belief in the resurrection, our faith is empty," he emphasized and quoted the apostle Paul. This creed is directly related to the mercy brothers' mercy, who particularly take care of the care and support of sick. The cardinal emphasized that the body is of great importance and that the care of body and soul forms the heart of the Christian faith.

"The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit," he continued, which illustrates the importance of protection of life from the start to the natural end. These values are essential for the work of the merciful brothers who are characterized by their tireless devotion.

bridge between cultures

Cardinal Schönborn also turned to the connection between Father Thomas and his Vietnamese origin. He recalled the challenge that Christians in Vietnam often face and the strength that the Church won in the middle of these challenges. "The church in Vietnam emerged from this difficult time," he said. He mentioned the Vietnamese witnesses Marcel van, whose life was also characterized by adversity and divine grace.

In a personal moment, the cardinal addressed his words directly to Father Thomas: "You are given the grace of becoming a priest - for your community and the people you will serve." This moment not only symbolized the rise of Father Thomas, but also the deep connection between different cultures within the church.

The service was well attended, with numerous members of the merciful brothers, friends of the order and many believers, especially from the Vietnamese Catholic community, who shared the solemn occasion. This ordination was able to bring tradition, faith and diversity together within the Vienna community and thus represents an important step for everyone involved.

More about this special celebration and its meaning can be found in a detailed report www.erzdioezese-wien.at read.