Early Franciscan career After settling in Springvale and being impressed by the work of the friars there, he entered the
Order of Friars Minor Conventuals (Conventual Franciscans) in 1983 and undertook priestly formation in Melbourne. He completed a baccalaureate in theology (Bachelor of Theology) at the
Melbourne College of Divinity in 1989 and was ordained a priest on 30 December 1989 by
George Pell. Nguyen later obtained a licentiate in spirituality and Christology from the
Pontifical University of St. Bonaventure (Seraphicum) in Rome in 1994. Nguyen served in parish ministry in Springvale (1990–1992),
Kellyville (1999–2002), and again in Springvale (2002–2008). Within his religious order, he was Director of Postulants in Australia (1994–1998) and Custodial Vicar (1995–2005). From 2008 to 2011, he served in Rome as Assistant General of the order, with responsibility for the Asia–Oceania region. He was consecrated on 23 June 2011 at
St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne, by Archbishop
Denis Hart, with Archbishop
Giuseppe Lazzarotto, Apostolic Nuncio, and Cardinal George Pell as co-consecrators. and traditionally associated with the
miraculous catch of fish, symbolising the Church’s missionary task. In Melbourne, he served as Episcopal Vicar for Justice and Peace and for Social Services, and chaired the Catholic Education Commission. Within the
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, he has served as Bishops Delegate for Migrants and Refugees, Chair of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, and as a member of its Permanent Committee. On 5 May 2016,
Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Parramatta.
Views and public engagement Nguyen has frequently spoken on issues of ecclesial reform, social justice and inclusion. In August 2016, he delivered the Ann D Clark Lecture titled “Pope Francis and the challenges of the Church today”. He described the Church as being at a “watershed moment”, “always in need of reform”, and called for “a Church that dares to risk the new frontier rather than a Church that is anchored in a safe harbour”. Drawing on themes associated with
liberation theology and the teaching of Pope Francis, he spoke of accompaniment, mercy, opposition to clericalism, and the need for “ecclesial inclusiveness” as a “big tent Church”. Addressing social issues, he stated that the Church could not credibly advocate for the integrity of creation and universal love while appearing inconsistent on matters affecting racial minorities, women and homosexual persons. He criticised the language describing homosexual orientation as “intrinsically disordered” as pastorally ineffective, particularly among younger people.
The Australian reported his remarks under the headline “Catholic bishop calls on Church to accept homosexuality”, with additional international coverage. Nguyen subsequently stated that his remarks had been misrepresented, clarifying that affirming the dignity of gay and lesbian persons did not entail altering Catholic moral teaching. On 21 February 2017, he testified before the
Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. During his testimony, he disclosed that he had been sexually abused by clergy after arriving in Australia, despite being an adult at the time. He identified clericalism, the isolation of clergy from lay oversight, and the marginalisation of women within Church structures as contributing factors to patterns of abuse. He also questioned traditional clerical titles and practices, such as kissing a bishop’s ring, describing them as reinforcing unhealthy power distance between clergy and laity. His testimony was applauded by survivors and their advocates. In August 2017, addressing the National Council of Priests, he stated that the Church required “new wine in new wineskins” rather than superficial reform, criticising triumphalism, authoritarianism and clerical superiority. He argued that diminishing priestly numbers could be an opportunity for renewal rather than decline. During the 2017
Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, Nguyen did not instruct Catholics in his diocese to oppose the legalisation of
same-sex marriage. In a pastoral letter dated 13 September 2017, he affirmed Catholic teaching that marriage is a sacramental union between one man and one woman, while stating that individuals were free to make their own decision in the civil survey. He encouraged respectful dialogue and acknowledged the tensions experienced by Catholics with same-sex attracted family members, calling for greater affirmation of human dignity and pastoral accompaniment. ==Notes==