Atlanta seminarians impressed by new auxiliary's 'humility'

By Peter Finney Jr.
Clarion Herald

Eight seminarians from the Archdiocese of Atlanta got prime seats at the table Wednesday in the large conference room just outside the office of New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond – and for a special reason.

The Atlanta seminarians were there to meet Bishop-elect John Nhan Tran, the pastor of Mary Queen of Peace Parish in Mandeville, who was appointed Oct. 25 by Pope Francis as auxiliary bishop of Atlanta. Bishop-elect Tran will be ordained to the episcopacy in Atlanta on Jan. 23.

One of the seminarians, Steven Shlapak, who grew up in Peachtree City, Georgia, asked Bishop-elect Tran if he could share “a particular grace” that he received in his own seminary formation at Notre Dame Seminary that continues to sustain him today in his priestly ministry.

Bishop-elect Tran said he did not realize when he was a seminarian that usually bishops were the only ones who took on a spiritual mottos, but through his study of the Gospels, he loved Jesus telling his disciples he did not come into the world for the “righteous but for sinners.”

“That, for me, over those years as a seminarian and also as a priest, has always stayed with me,” he said. “In many ways, that gave me a lot of comfort because despite your sinfulness and limitations, God still calls you to do something good for him and his church.

“The only thing he asks of us is to simply try to do our best with the graces that he gives us. That has always been a consolation to me. He did not call me because I am bright and I have many gifts, but God called me, perhaps, because I’m limited and also because I’m a sinner. It helps me put into perspective and see how my service to the people of God should be, because sometimes, people come with brokenness. It is in reflecting upon my own brokenness and my own limitations that I have a deeper appreciation of where they are in order for me to walk with them.”

(From left to right: Atanta seminarians David DesPres, Will Whitlow, Joseph Nguyen, Eric Baylot, Bishop-elect John Tran, Patrick Creamer, Steven Shlapak, Jonathan Nguyen and Austin Thomas.)

Atlanta seminarian David DesPres said what impressed him most about Bishop-elect Tran was his “humility and the way in which he spoke about ministry.”

Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the papal nuncio to the U.S., contacted Bishop-elect Tran on the weekend of Oct. 15 with Pope Francis’ request that he become auxiliary bishop of Atlanta. He asked Archbishop Pierre for a few days to pray about the decision.

“It was whether or not I would be effective as a bishop with the limitations and gifts that I have to serve the local church of the Archdiocese of Atlanta,” he said. “I certainly did not want to be there and be a hindrance for the local church in any way. That was my main concern. Of course, I’m scared and (have) all those emotions, but the most important thing was whether or not I could fulfill the role and the responsibility that I will be entrusted with.”

Archbishop Aymond said Bishop-elect Tran’s service as a pastor in four parishes is evidence of his capabilities to be a spiritual leader as a bishop.

“There is much weeping on the northshore (at Mary Queen of Peace Parish) today, I can assure you,” Archbishop Aymond said. “I called yesterday to talk to the staff, and they will miss him greatly. He has been a good friend to many of us and to me personally. This is a day of thanksgiving to God for calling him to the episcopacy. It’s a great day of rejoicing for Atlanta.”

Archbishop Aymond presented Bishop-elect Tran with the pectoral cross worn by Archbishop Francis Schulte, who ordained Bishop-elect Tran to the priesthood in 1992. 

The new auxiliary bishop will wear the pectoral cross and a bishop’s violet-colored zucchetto for the next three months when he celebrates Mass. He will receive his episcopal ring, miter (hat) and crozier (staff) when he is ordained a bishop in January.

Bishop-elect Tran thanked all the priests, deacons and religious who had helped him during his 30 years as a priest, and he gave special thanks to his parishioners, many of whom inspired him to be a better priest.

“Thank you to all those I have had the privilege of serving as a parochial vicar and as pastor,” he said. “My life today – where I am today – would not have been possible without them. I’ve always been grateful for the opportunity to walk with people, to hear their story and to be of service to them. I hope in some small way I have been able to help them grow in faith.

“But I’m forever grateful to the laity of the archdiocese – those I encounter – and it’s their faith that really inspires me … and helped me many times carry the burden. If there’s a time when the cross is a little bit heavy, they will assist you in carrying that.”

As for pulling up stakes in New Orleans and moving to Atlanta – replacing the black-and-gold of the New Orleans Saints with the black-and-red of the Atlanta Falcons – Bishop-elect Tran offered a bit of Solomonic wisdom.

“I will perhaps answer it this way,” he said. “Do you have any children? Let’s just say if you have two sons who play sports and they have to compete together, how would you support them? I would only say this. If they play in Atlanta at home against the Saints, then I would, of course, cheer for the Falcons. Now, if they are playing here, then, of course, I would cheer for the Saints. I still need to live in Atlanta, and I still need to come home here to visit. It’s all good.”

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