ASIA/VIETNAM - Bishop of Phat Diem appointed

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father Benedict XVI, on July 25, 2009, appointed Fr. Joseph Nguyen Nang, Rector of the Major Seminary of Xuan Loc, as Bishop of Phat Diem (Vietnam).
Fr. Joseph Nguyen Nang was born November 24, 1953 in Phuc Nhac (Diocese of Phat Diem). He carried out his studies in the Minor Seminary of Saigon (1962-1970) and in the Major Seminary of Saint Pius X, Dalat (1975-1978). During his time as a major seminarian, he served in Petit Apotre in Bach Lam, Thong Nhat, Dong Nai (1977-1988) and at the parish of Thuan Hoa, Bien Hoa (1988-1990). He was ordained a priest on June 9, 1990 for the Diocese of Xuan Loc. He has since ministered as follows: Parish Pastor of the parish of Thuan Hoa, Bien Hoa (1990-1998); studies at the Pontifical University Urbaniana in Rome, finishing with a degree in Dogmatic Theology (1998-2002). Since 2002, he has been Rector of the Xuan Loc Major Seminary.
The Diocese of Phat Diem was erected in 1960 and is suffragan of the Archdiocese of Hanoi. It covers an area of 1,787 km sq, with 920,000 inhabitants (152,000 Catholics), 69 parishes, 55 priests (50 diocesan and 5 religious), 34 seminarians, and 140 religious. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 27/7/2009)