Reverend Bernard Huan Tien Nguyen, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, passed away on Friday, Jan. 31, at the age of 76.

Father Nguyen was born on Dec. 11, 1937 in Dat Giao, Chanh Hoa, Vietnam (North.) He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Dalat, Vietnam on April 24, 1966 by Bishop Michael Ngu Khac Nguyen in Saigon, Vietnam (South). Father Nguyen was incardinated into (meaning he became a priest of) the Archdiocese of Cincinnati on June 13, 1980.

When he first arrived in the archdiocese in August 1975, taking up residence in the Fairborn area, Father Nguyen he was granted faculties to minister to Vietnamese refugees. He was appointed to residence at St. Matthias Church, Forest Park, in October 1976, and to residence at St. John the Evangelist Church, Deer Park, in August 1977.  He was appointed part-time chaplain at Good Samaritan Hospital, Dayton, in September 1978. In September 1992, he was appointed moderator-chaplain to the Vietnamese Catholic Community in Cincinnati (Our Lady of Lavang) and in Dayton. Father Nguyen retired in July 2008.

Reception of the Body will take place at 5 p.m. Friday, February 7, at Our Lady of Lavang Vietnamese Catholic Community, 314 Township Avenue, Cincinnati. The celebrant and homilist will be Fr. Chau Pham, SVD. Visitation will continue until 9 p.m.

Most Rev. Dennis M. Schnurr, Archbishop of Cincinnati, will celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 8, at Our Lady of Lavang Vietnamese Catholic Community. Father Minh Nguyen will preach. Burial will follow immediately at Gate of Heaven Cemetery on Montgomery Road.

On the 40th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood, Father Nguyen spoke of his long journey from Vietnam to the United States and thanked God for his loving providence. He said that after all the hardships, he was proud to have a healthy and established Vietnamese community in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.