Remembering Bishop Dominic Dinh Mai Luong, First Vietnamese-American Bishop
GARDEN GROVE, CA – The Most Rev. Dominic Dinh Mai Luong, D.D., Bishop Emeritus for the Diocese of Orange, passed away on December 6, 2017, at 77 years old, surrounded by friends, family, and brother priests.
Bishop Luong will be remembered as the first native-born Vietnamese Roman Catholic Bishop in the United States and for his passionate ministry. The words on his coat of arms summarized his journey and mission: ‘You are Strangers and Aliens No Longer.’
Early Life and Journey to America
Dominic Dinh Mai Luong was born on December 20, 1940, in North Vietnam, the second youngest of 11 children in a devout Catholic family. Due to political instability, his family was forced to move several times. He attended a junior seminary, and in 1956, at just 16 years old, his bishop sent him to the United States to continue his formation for the priesthood. This began a long, difficult separation from his family and homeland, which he would not be able to visit again until 1979.
After studies at the Diocesan Preparatory Seminary in Buffalo and Saint Bernard’s Major Seminary in Rochester, New York, he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Da Nang on May 21, 1966. Due to the raging war in Vietnam, he could not return home. He went on to complete master’s degrees in biology and psychology and taught biology in Buffalo.
A Leader for His People
Following the fall of South Vietnam, many refugees came to the United States. Father Luong’s unique experience made him a natural leader. He moved to New Orleans and served as the Director of the Archdiocesan Vietnamese Apostolate from 1976 to 1983. He also became the founding pastor of Mary, Queen of Vietnam Parish.
On the national level, he served as Director of the National Center for the Vietnamese Apostolate and as the U.S. Conference of Bishops’ Director of Pastoral Care for Migrants and Refugees. For this important work, Pope John Paul II honored him with the title of Monsignor.
A Historic Appointment in Orange County
As the Vietnamese Catholic community grew in Southern California, the Vatican took notice. On April 25, 2003, Pope John Paul II appointed Monsignor Luong as Auxiliary Bishop of Orange, making him the first native-born Vietnamese Roman Catholic Bishop in the United States.
- Then-retired Bishop Norman McFarland called the appointment a “happening of major historical significance.”
- Bishop Tod Brown welcomed him, noting, “Not only is he a person with deep spirituality and a dedicated heart, but he also possesses well-honed leadership skills.”
- Bishop-elect Luong acknowledged the honor, stating that it recognized the “many contributions with which 400,000 Vietnamese Catholics, over 600 priests, and more than 500 religious have enriched the Church in the United States.”
Retirement and Final Years
Bishop Luong retired in 2015 but remained active, based at St. Bonaventure Church in Huntington Beach. He told OC Catholic in a recent interview that he liked “to keep in contact with my people.” In his final years, he was writing a book, “Mary of Vietnam,” about appearances of the Blessed Mother in the country, and was also involved in a monthly Lectio Divina [‘Divine Reading’] group at his parish.