Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

Deacon Yen Van Tran is set to be ordained as a priest, following the path of three of his siblings and hundreds of parishioners from his childhood parish in Vinh, Vietnam. Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre will ordain Deacon Tran alongside Deacons Matthew Millay, Kenneth Nauert, Michael Schultz and Van Tran at 10 a.m. on June 1 at St. Michael Church, located at 3705 Stone Lakes Drive.

"I’m very excited to start another chapter of my life," expressed Deacon Tran during a recent interview. "It’s my 11th year in formation... I’m very excited to apply what I learned in the seminary. I want to live more closely with the people of God to serve them and do the best work of priesthood."

Deacon Tran is the son of Luu Tran and Loi Thi Tran, who will travel from Vietnam to attend his ordination. He grew up in rural Vinh and attended Thanh Da Church, where his family is among 18,000 parishioners. At least 600 men and women from that parish have answered calls to religious life or the priesthood, according to Deacon Tran.

Growing up, he admired priests for their selfless service to people without concern for money. "I love the way they serve the people with care and compassion. It was my first impression of what a priest is," said Deacon Tran. "I wanted to be like them."

Deacon Tran is the third of six children; two sisters and a brother also pursued a call to religious life. His calling came in middle school when he joined a parish youth group that allowed him to serve in various ways.

Today he looks forward to starting his ministry as a priest. "I’m very excited to celebrate Mass, work with the people and care for them," shared Deacon Tran. "I’m still learning and it’ll be a change from the seminary to the reality of priesthood but I know I am not alone."

Following his ordination, Deacon Tran will travel to Vietnam to visit the rest of his family. He has been assigned as associate pastor at St. Margaret Mary Church.