Santa Maria, Mater Dei, Ora pro nobis.

Meet Dcn. Minh Nguyen

A glimpse into the journey and heart of Deacon Minh Nguyen, D.D.S., M.A.P.S.

Ordination to the Diaconate - 2/14/2025

It was Jesus—meek and humble of heart—calling him gently, joyfully. Not to punish, but to pardon. Not to shame, but to save. And this man, moved by such sweetness, began to sing. Oh, not with pride, but with gratitude. Not from fear, but from love.

His song was the Gospel, and he sang it because his heart could not keep silent. In that song, he found Christ anew—not in power, but in love. And when he became a deacon, he wept—not for fear of the role, but for joy that such a gift would be given to so unworthy a soul.

Meet the young boy

Deacon Minh was born on January 23, 1966, in Mytho, Vietnam. He was the second child. He has four brothers and two sisters. His father was a military captain and his mother worked as a clerk. He attended a board school and worked as an altar server from an early age.

In 1975, the Communists took control of South Vietnam. His father was placed in the "re-education camp." Four years later, the young boy escaped from Vietnam alone on a fishing boat.

Meet the teenager

Minh, a teenager who had spent time in a refugee camp on Pulau Bidong, Malaysia, arrived in Texas, USA, as an orphan. He graduated from St. Thoas High School with honors and received a full scholarship to Texas A&M in 1985.

After four years, in 1985, he graduated from Texas A&M with a B.A. degree in Biology and University Honor.

During this time, he attended Mass every day and was an active member of the church chorus, serving as music director. He was elected as the president of the Vietnamese American Student Association at Texas A&M University.

Meet the Family Dentist

Dr. Minh Nguyen graduated from dental school in San Antonio in 1993, earning Magna Cum Laude honors. During the summers while in dental school, he was commissioned as a Junior Health Service Officer. After graduation, he completed an Oral Surgery Residency.

He then established his private dental practice in Houston, where he has been practicing as a general dentist ever since. Dr. Nguyen has received several honors and has been featured in local news, including programs on both American and Vietnamese television.

Additionally, he has traveled to Vietnam for charity missions and has participated in numerous charity events in Houston.