Our Bishop
Most Reverend Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFM Conv DD STL
Fourth Bishop of Parramatta
Bishop Vincent Long was born in 1961 in Dong Nai in Vietnam. Since the fall of Saigon in 1975, his family has been dispersed: his mother, a brother and a sister are in Melbourne, three brothers are in Holland, a sister remains in Vietnam, and Bishop Vincent is now in Parramatta.
In 1984, he became a professed Conventual Franciscan friar (OFM Conv) and studied for the priesthood in Melbourne.
After his priestly ordination on 30 December in 1989, he was sent to Rome for further studies and was awarded a licentiate in Christology and Spirituality from the Pontifical Faculty of St Bonaventure.
He served as an assistant and then parish priest for seven years in Kellyville within the Diocese of Parramatta and for seven years in Springvale in Victoria before being elected Superior of the Order of Friars Minor Conventuals in Australia in 2005. He served as Assistant General in Rome from 2008 until 2011, responsible for the Asia-Oceania section of his Order.
In 2011, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne in which role he served for nearly five years. Bishop Vincent is the first Vietnamese born bishop to lead a diocese outside of Vietnam and the first Vietnamese born bishop in Australia.
During that period, he was Episcopal Vicar for Justice and Peace and for Social Services and was Chair of the Catholic Education Commission (Victoria).
Nationally, Bishop Vincent is the Chair, Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service.
On 5 May 2016, he was appointed the fourth Bishop of Parramatta in succession to Bishop Anthony Fisher OP following his appointment as Archbishop of Sydney in 2014.
On 16 June 2016, Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv was installed as the fourth Bishop of Parramatta at St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta.
Coat of Arms and Motto
Duc in Altum ‘Go out into the deep'
A Bishop’s Coat of Arms traditionally consists of two halves: the left is the crest of the Diocese; the right of the Bishop himself.
Bishop Vincent’s own Coat of Arms and Motto, adopted on his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne, are of a personal character.
The personal Arms of the Bishop are joined with the Arms of the Diocese of Parramatta in a heraldic practice called impalement, which illustrates the connection between the man and the office.
The Bishop's Coat of Arms in heraldic terms: Azure, on a bar wavy Or three barrulets wavy Gules between three bezants Or thereon in dexter chief, the emblem of the Order of the Friars Minor Conventuals proper, in sinister chief, the stars of the Southern Cross azure and, in base, an anchor Gules.
Explanation
The Arms of the Diocese of Parramatta (left hand side) were adopted by Bishop Bede Heather on the erection of the Diocese and his appointment as its first Bishop in 1986. The design represents the mountains and rivers of the Diocese with the crowned Chi Rho christogram representing Christ.
The blue represents Australia which embraces Vietnamese refugees with generosity
The Franciscan Coat of Arms (right hand side) represents the Order of Friars Minor Conventuals whose spirituality is oriented towards total conformity to the poor, the suffering and the crucified Christ.
The Southern Cross represents Australia
The gold and red wavy band - referencing the Flag of South Vietnam - symbolises the struggles and hardships endured for the sake of our freedom and faith and the gold plates represent the Trinity surrounding us in our struggles and hardships. The red waves surrounded by the blue background also symbolise the painful journey to freedom by boat on the part of many former Vietnamese refugees. In spiritual realm, they signify the exodus that each Christian is called to make.
Red anchor (anchor Gules) symbolises Christ our refuge in times of trial and our faith journey into the deep.
The Bishop’s personal Arms were designed by Rev Guy Selvester and Richard d’Apice and illustrated by Sandy Turnbull in 2011. The Arms of the Diocese of Parramatta were designed by the late Michael McCarthy. They have been re-rendered by Sandy Turnbull.
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Our Bishop
Most Reverend Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFM Conv DD
Fourth Bishop of Parramatta
Bishop Vincent Long was born in 1961 in Dong Nai in Vietnam. Since the fall of Saigon in 1975, his family has been dispersed: his mother, a brother and a sister are in Melbourne, three brothers are in Holland, a sister remains in Vietnam, and Bishop Vincent is now in Parramatta.
In 1984, he became a professed Conventual Franciscan friar (OFM Conv) and studied for the priesthood in Melbourne.
After his priestly ordination on 30 December in 1989, he was sent to Rome for further studies and was awarded a licentiate in Christology and Spirituality from the Pontifical Faculty of St Bonaventure.
He served as an assistant and then parish priest for seven years in Kellyville within the Diocese of Parramatta and for seven years in Springvale in Victoria before being elected Superior of the Order of Friars Minor Conventuals in Australia in 2005. He served as Assistant General in Rome from 2008 until 2011, responsible for the Asia-Oceania section of his Order.
In 2011, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne in which role he served for nearly five years. Bishop Vincent is the first Vietnamese born bishop to lead a diocese outside of Vietnam and the first Vietnamese born bishop in Australia.
During that period, he was Episcopal Vicar for Justice and Peace and for Social Services and was Chair of the Catholic Education Commission (Victoria).
Nationally, he serves as the Bishops Delegate for Migrants and Refugees and is Chair of Australian Catholic Social Justice Council.
On 5 May 2016, he was appointed the fourth Bishop of Parramatta in succession to Bishop Anthony Fisher OP following his appointment as Archbishop of Sydney in 2014.
On 16 June 2016, Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv was installed as the fourth Bishop of Parramatta at St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta.
Coat of Arms and Motto
Duc in Altum ‘Go out into the deep'
A Bishop’s Coat of Arms traditionally consists of two halves: the left is the crest of the Diocese; the right of the Bishop himself.
Bishop Vincent’s own Coat of Arms and Motto, adopted on his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne, are of a personal character.
The personal Arms of the Bishop are joined with the Arms of the Diocese of Parramatta in a heraldic practice called impalement, which illustrates the connection between the man and the office.
The Bishop's Coat of Arms in heraldic terms: Azure, on a bar wavy Or three barrulets wavy Gules between three bezants Or thereon in dexter chief, the emblem of the Order of the Friars Minor Conventuals proper, in sinister chief, the stars of the Southern Cross azure and, in base, an anchor Gules.
Explanation
The Arms of the Diocese of Parramatta (left hand side) were adopted by Bishop Bede Heather on the erection of the Diocese and his appointment as its first Bishop in 1986. The design represents the mountains and rivers of the Diocese with the crowned Chi Rho christogram representing Christ.
The blue represents Australia which embraces Vietnamese refugees with generosity
The Franciscan Coat of Arms (right hand side) represents the Order of Friars Minor Conventuals whose spirituality is oriented towards total conformity to the poor, the suffering and the crucified Christ.
The Southern Cross represents Australia
The gold and red wavy band - referencing the Flag of South Vietnam - symbolises the struggles and hardships endured for the sake of our freedom and faith and the gold plates represent the Trinity surrounding us in our struggles and hardships. The red waves surrounded by the blue background also symbolise the painful journey to freedom by boat on the part of many former Vietnamese refugees. In spiritual realm, they signify the exodus that each Christian is called to make.
Red anchor (anchor Gules) symbolises Christ our refuge in times of trial and our faith journey into the deep.
The Bishop’s personal Arms were designed by Rev Guy Selvester and Richard d’Apice and illustrated by Sandy Turnbull in 2011. The Arms of the Diocese of Parramatta were designed by the late Michael McCarthy. They have been re-rendered by Sandy Turnbull.
