Bishop-elect Tran has a heart filled with generosity

Can you share your thoughts on Pope Francis’ appointment of Father John Tran as auxiliary bishop of Atlanta?

This is truly a time of thanksgiving as we give thanks to God for choosing Father John – now Bishop John – for the role of bishop and as a successor of the apostles. For everyone in Atlanta, it’s a glorious announcement. For us in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, it’s a farewell from New Orleans but certainly not a farewell in terms of our friendship and fraternity and in terms of Bishop-elect Tran’s love for New Orleans. I had a chance to speak with a member of the staff of Mary Queen of Peace on the day of the announcement, and I can tell you there is much weeping. They will miss him greatly because he has served his parish so well since his appointment in 2014. We thank God for John, for his call to the priesthood and now his call to the episcopacy. We also thank God for the many gifts he has given John and the way in which John has given those gifts to us in this local church.

What stands out to you about Bishop-elect Tran’s background and his priestly ministry?

God has truly been at the center of John’s life and at the center of the lives of his family. He was just 9 years old when his family left Vietnam by boat in 1975. He and his family received refugee status in the United States following the Vietnam War. Archbishop Hannan took the lead in embracing the Vietnamese community in their resettlement in New Orleans, and what a blessing that has been to the archdiocese and beyond. John attended Edna Karr Junior High School and then shortly after that moved to New York, where the Salesians were gracious in giving his family tuition assistance so that John could have a Catholic secondary education. John went on to attend St. Joseph Seminary College in St. Benedict and then studied for the priesthood at Notre Dame Seminary. In fact, he was a student at the seminary when I served as rector. He received a master of divinity degree in 1992 from Notre Dame and was ordained by Archbishop Schulte at St. Louis Cathedral. One of the gifts I gave John was one of Archbishop Schulte’s pectoral crosses. He has served as parochial vicar in a number of parishes, and he also has served as pastor in four parishes: St. Louise de Marillac in Arabi, which is now closed because of Hurricane Katrina; St. Bonaventure in Avondale; St. Joan of Arc in LaPlace; and Mary Queen of Peace in Mandeville. In every parish, he has provided loving pastoral care.

He’s also had a number of archdiocesan assignments.

Yes. In fact, he is the chair of our Presbyteral Council and was just re-elected the other day! That was sort of a funny experience because on the day the election was held, the only two people in the room who knew he would be appointed auxiliary bishop of Atlanta the next day were John and I. Technically, he’s still the chair of the Presbyteral Council! He also served on the Priest Personnel Committee for a long time – that committee helps with the assignments of priests to different parishes. John also served as dean of the St. John-St. Charles Deanery and has been a member of so many committees that it’s almost too numerous to count. John has been extremely generous in offering himself for service to the archdiocese, and, for me, he has been a wonderful consultant. There have been many times I’ve called to ask his advice not only on the Vietnamese community but also on issues in the archdiocese. He’s been a blessing in offering me wise counsel. And, in the process of all that, he’s been a very, very good friend.

What are your thoughts as Bishop-elect Tran prepares for his Jan. 23 ordination in Atlanta?

We ask God to bless Bishop-elect John Tran in this time of transition as he goes forth to preach and to celebrate and to shepherd God’s people in the name of the Good Shepherd. On those days of rejoicing and in those days of challenge, we ask God to guide him, to love him and to keep him close. And, we also ask God’s blessings upon his family and all those whom he holds in his heart.

Questions for Archbishop Aymond may be sent to [email protected]