Ordained in June, I feel especially blessed that Archbishop Gregory has assigned me to Saint Elizabeth as your deacon!

I’m a native of Biddeford, Maine, and grew up in a family of seven in Scituate, Massachusetts and Northfield, Vermont. In 1980, after graduating from the University of Vermont with a particular focus on film, I entered the New England Province of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). After novitiate, I was sent to First Studies at Gonzaga University in Spokane. In 1983, I discerned out of the Jesuits, and soon after pursued graduate studies in early Christian and Asian art history at the University of Colorado, and was later granted a Ph.D. in Chinese language and literature from the University of Washington. I spent a few years off-and-on in Taiwan studying Mandarin and classical Chinese.

Son Vuong and I have been married for over 30 years and lived in Boulder, Seattle, and Minneapolis before relocating to Maryland. We have been members of Saint Elizabeth for almost two decades. You have seen us around the parish in various ministries: Son is an usher, homebound minister of Holy Communion, and a catechist. Our daughter Sydney is now mostly away as a college student, but she was an altar server from fourth grade through high school. You’ve seen me as a lector, an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and as a catechist, and I have served on the Pastoral Council. I’ve also been leading the popular Faith through Film monthly movie discussions.

After establishing herself as a corporate architect, Son became employed in the same field by the Department of State in the early 2000s. I happily worked as a professor of Chinese (Lewis & Clark College and the University of Minnesota) before entering on duty with the government in 2000; I’m now a senior manager with the Department of Defense. Sydney is already well on her way to a career in lighting design, and studies at Carnegie Mellon.

I entered the Archdiocese’s permanent diaconate program some years ago. At ordination, besides sending me back to Saint Elizabeth, the Archbishop also assigned me to work with the poor and the homeless as my diaconal Ministry of Charity. I look forward to serving our parish and worshipping with you for a long time to come!