Most Reverend Vincent Nguyen

Regional Bishop’s Office - Eastern Pastoral Region
Phone: 416-724-0900
Fax: 416-724-0902
eastern.region@archtoronto.org

Father Vincent Hieu Nguyen was born on May 8, 1966 in Saigon, Vietnam, the sixth in a family of seven boys and two girls. He left the country in 1983 and arrived in Canada in 1984. He achieved a Bachelor of Applied Science (Electrical Engineering) from the University of Toronto in 1991.

He lived at Serra House, a formation residence for men in discernment, from 1992-1993. He entered St. Augustine’s Seminary in 1993 and earned his Masters of Divinity from the University of Toronto in 1998. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Toronto on May 9, 1998.

Father Nguyen served as the Associate Pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish in Mississauga from 1998-2001 and as the Administrator of St. Monica’s Parish from 2001-2003. He served as Pastor of St. Cecilia’s Parish and Administrator for the Mission of the Vietnamese Martyrs from 2003-2005.

Father Nguyen continued studies in Rome and was awarded a licentiate in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), Rome in 2008. He returned to Toronto, appointed in August 2008 as Vice-Chancellor of Spiritual Affairs. In September 2009, he was appointed as Chancellor of Spiritual Affairs and Moderator of the Curia. Bishop Nguyen’s episcopal ordination took place at St. Michael's Cathedral in Toronto on January 13, 2010. 

Explanation of the Coat of Arms for Bishop Vincent Nguyen

The shield of Bishop Nguyen's coat of arms is on a standard bearing a cross with the five wounds of Christ. The shield is divided into two main sections. The top section is based on the Book of Revelations 7:9, where the multitude of martyrs, with palm branches in their hands, stand before the throne of the Lamb. The drop of blood flanked by two palm branches has special family significance for Bishop Nguyen as his great-great-grandfather is one of the Vietnamese Martyrs. The bottom half symbolizes not only the mandate given to the Apostles to be fishers of men, but also recognizes the Bishop as one of the boat people who came to Canada from Vietnam.

His motto "Ego Vobiscum Sum" (I am with you) are the words of Jesus at the end of Matthew's Gospel (Mt 28:20). It is a reminder to the bishop that the Triune God is with him as he responds to his Episcopal call to be present and involved with the People of God as they together bear witness to Christ.