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Meet Bishop John N. Trần – Vietnamese American Leader, Lifelong Learner, and Beloved Parish Handyman
“God Will Provide” is the motto of Bishop John Nhàn Trần. Inspired by the Latin inscription above the entrance of Notre Dame Seminary, where he earned his master’s degree in divinity, the phrase struck a chord in the nerve-wracking days before his episcopal ordination. In fact, it made a surprising appearance as he traveled from Louisiana to the news conference in Atlanta announcing his new role as Auxiliary Bishop.
“I was still terrified, and I remember going to the airport, and there was a car in front of me with a bumper sticker…It was ‘Deus Providebit.’ I’ve never seen a bumper sticker like that, ‘God will Provide,’ much less in Latin! When I saw that, I said quietly to the Lord, “Okay, I got your drift. This is where you are leading me.”
– Most Reverend John N. Trần
When he first received the unexpected call from then-Papal Nuncio Cardinal Christophe Pierre, Bishop John had been a priest and pastor in the Archdiocese of New Orleans for over 30 years. His initial response to the Nuncio was gratitude for the appointment from the Holy Father, but no. He did not think he was called to take on such a vital role in the Church. In his conversation with the Nuncio, he asked for permission to discern with the now-retired Archbishop of New Orleans Gregory Michael Aymond and later Atlanta’s Archbishop Gregory John Hartmayer, OFM. These conversations eased his fears.
“After more reflection and prayer, I said,
‘Lord, I don’t know why it is, but I will try to do my best. Give me the grace to do it.’
Then the next day I called the Nuncio back.”
– Most Reverend John N. Trần
Trusting in God’s providence, in both big moments and small, has shaped Bishop John’s life. Born in Vietnam in 1966, he later came to the U.S. as a refugee at the age of nine. He lost his mother when he was only two years old, and his oldest brother was killed in 1972.
“I remember him the last day of school. He was in middle school, and I was in kindergarten. We were farmers, and he got killed out in the field, stepping on a landmine. The image of my dad carrying him home is still very vivid.” – Most Reverend John N. Trần
Soon after, the family left Saigon by barge. They climbed the double fence that surrounded the vessel. With sandbags in between, from the outside, they couldn’t be seen.
“We were protected by those sandbags. We were pushed out into the South China Sea and there for 2 or 3 days, and then we got rescued by the U.S. military.” – Most Reverend John N. Trần
The family’s journey to the U.S. included stops in refugee camps in the Philippines, Guam, and Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. Finally, they arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana, where they were sponsored by an American family. Bishop John continued his education in New Orleans until high school. He wrote to a boarding school run by the Salesians of Don Bosco in Goshen, New York. He wasn’t sure what prompted him to reach out, but soon he was accepted and traveling 30-plus hours across the country on a Greyhound bus.
“I was by myself, and I got lost in New York City at the Port Authority. There was an African American lady, she came out of nowhere, and it was one or two in the morning, and she said, ‘You look like you’re lost,’ and I said, ‘Yes ma’am,’ and she helped me get to where I needed to be.
I always said that must be my guardian angel.”
– Most Reverend John N. Trần
Spending the next four years learning from the Salesians, he remains grateful to the Order for the educational opportunity he received as well as their guidance. When asked what called him to the priesthood, Bishop John explains his vocational journey was nothing extraordinary. After high school, he spent a year at Don Bosco College in New Jersey before returning home to help with his younger brother and sister. While home in New Orleans, his first cousin, the late Msgr. John Phuc, who had been ordained a priest just two years prior, encouraged him to go into the seminary.
Bishop John spent almost 31 years as a priest in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, including serving as both a parochial vicar and pastor in rural and urban parishes. He also worked on the Priest Personnel Board, served as chair for the Presbyteral (Priests) Council, and was on the Council of Deans of the St. John-St. Charles Deanery of New Orleans. All this experience built a vibrant and sturdy foundation, which would make him an excellent candidate as auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Atlanta. As he reflects on his current role, Bishop John is especially grateful for his brother bishops.
“I still have a lot to learn, that’s for sure. Thankfully, here we have Bishop Konzen and Bishop Shlesinger and the Archbishop, and they allow me the opportunity to learn and to grow, so I’m very, very blessed in that sense.”
– Most Reverend John N. Trần
His work as a bishop involves supporting the Office of Evangelization and Discipleship, which supports a wide variety of ministries touching parish life and faith formation, including Youth Ministry, Marriage & Family Life Ministry, Adult and Family Faith Formation, Campus Ministries, and more. He also works with the Metropolitan Tribunal and the Office of Vocations. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, serves on the USCCB committee for the protection of children and young people, and is a part of the subcommittee for Asian and Pacific Islander affairs. One of the most rewarding aspects of his role is celebrating confirmations. He views it as a privilege to visit parishes, be out in the community, and cultivate the formation of the Catholic faith.
“I’m ever mindful of young families. One of the things we continue to encourage parishes to work on is family faith formation, and that we all continue to grow in the knowledge of the faith. It’s for our sake, so we can make sense of life, but also hand on the faith…I always appreciate and thank young people and student leaders for practicing the faith. It’s a great joy.” – Most Reverend John N. Trần
As the third Vietnamese American bishop ordained in the U.S., he also serves the wider Vietnamese community. He often uses his downtime to travel, sight unseen, to parishes across the country to celebrate Mass and express his gratitude to Vietnamese Catholics living out their faith. Bishop John notes that becoming a bishop has resulted in him meeting many people from all walks of life. He enjoys talking with them and answering questions. He has also seen how the story of his life has impacted others:
“How I grew up in a war-torn country and refugee camps or they read the story that I donated my kidney. There’s a lot of pain and suffering in life, but they always see I’m happy, which I think gives them hope in their suffering.
Sometimes they say I’m down-to-earth, and I say, ‘Yeah, I’m 5’4”, I got to be.’ (laughs). But there’s always somebody out there who is more than happy to trade places with you on your worst day. So that helps me to stay grounded and strive to live a life of gratitude.”
– Most Reverend John N. Trần
Fun Facts with Bishop John
What do you like to do in your downtime?
I’m a boring guy. (laughs) If I have some free time, I do try to learn something on the internet. At home, I put on YouTube or something like that. Sometimes, it’s nice to just be boring.
What music do you like to listen to?
It kind of depends on what mood I am in. If I get on a treadmill, which is very rare, I put on something from the 80’s and 90’s, something fast. I appreciate classical music and just the calmness of it.
What other things do you enjoy listening to?
These days, I don’t listen to a lot of music anymore in my car, and I spend a lot of time in the car. [Instead,] I put on something from YouTube to learn something. For things related to scripture, I’ll put on Dr. Brant Pitre or Scott Hahn. I usually try to stay on top of the news too. One, so I know what’s going on and two, to pray for those affected by it and three, to know how blessed I am to see that my life is nothing compared to the lives of so many people.
Do you have a favorite book?
I like Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s writing: The Life of Christ and The Priest is Not His Own. And then the late Cardinal Francis-Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan. He wrote a number of books after he was released from being in prison for 13 years after the fall of Saigon. In Five Loaves and Two Fish, he shares how he was able to smuggle in a drop of wine, and his palm was the altar, and he was able to celebrate Mass. I like his writing because it deals with the reality of human suffering, but how, in the midst of all that, God is still present in some way.
What is your favorite movie?
You know I hardly ever watch movies. I remember when my niece and nephew were little, I used to take them to the movies, and I had to sit in between them because I usually fall asleep (laughs). But there’s one movie I remember I watched a lot, I think eight times. It’s The Mission with Robert De Niro. They deal with the missionary work of the Jesuits back in the 1800s in South America. Maybe when I retire, I’ll catch up on my movies!
Do you have any hidden talents?
I don’t call it talent, but [in Louisiana] when my parish staff found out that I was leaving, they asked, “Who’s going to take care of our cars and lawn mowers now?” (laughs). I still maintain my car. Do plumbing when needed. It’s kind of funny—now when I visit parishes, I’ll occasionally tell the pastor, “Oh, your toilet is running,” and he’ll respond, “Oh, really?”
What are some of your favorite places to visit?
Because I don’t travel, every place I visit is my favorite. Also, I like to go up the mountains and just be in nature. Just be out, away from traffic.
Do you have a favorite scripture passage?
Yes, from my days in the seminary. It’s Luke chapter 5, verse 32: “I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.” I view it in the context of my vocation. That, despite your weaknesses, despite your limitations, God calls you. I always find it to be humbling.
Who is your favorite saint?
(Points to picture of St. John Bosco, one of the few pictures on the wall) You notice how many pictures I have in my office! (laughs). It’s gratitude for the opportunity that I was given by the Salesians and of course, the task of his life: to care for the youth with kindness, with gentleness, and with reason.
