God Bless you, Fr. Joseph. We will miss you.
It is with mixed emotions that we report that Bishop Noonan has appointed Fr. Joseph as Parochial Administrator of St. Paul Catholic Church and School in Leesburg, effective February 1, 2026. We are thrilled for this wonderful opportunity for Fr. Joseph, but also very sad to see this humble, caring, and devoted priest leave Most Precious Blood. We wish you the very best in your new assignment, Fr. Joseph. You will be greatly missed.
Fr. Joseph T. M. Tran became our Parochial Vicar in September of 2024. He came to us from Resurrection Catholic Church in Lakeland. He is a young priest, ordained on May 28, 2022, at St. James Cathedral in Orlando.
Here is a little bit about Fr. Joseph.
He was born in Dong Nai, Vietnam. From a young age Fr. Joseph was hearing a call from God. The oldest of three children, Fr. Joseph grew up playing soccer and video games and practicing the piano, he is a gifted musician! Part of a devout Catholic family, he remembers hearing stories of the saints, walking to church almost daily, and eating dinner in front of a statue of Saint Joseph. All of these things laid a firm foundation of faith and inspired him to consider the priesthood.
“Those attitudes are treasures of my faith,” said Father Joseph. “I was involved in many parish ministries. I first played piano for the children’s choir when I was twelve years old. Being an altar server has always amazed me. I felt like I wanted to do something for the Lord and his Church. I occasionally expressed my desire to become a priest.”
At 20 years old, Father Joseph’s family moved to Melbourne, FL, and he began attending Eastern State College, majoring in mechanical engineering. He was immersed in his studies and working at a nail salon when his uncle, who is also a priest, visited from Illinois and asked him if he still had the desire to enter the priesthood.
“When my uncle reminded me about the priesthood, I knew what God wanted me to do at that moment. I applied to enter the seminary,” remembered Father Joseph.
He entered St. John Vianney Seminary in 2014, where he spent the next several years studying philosophy and theology and receiving the intensive formation needed to become a priest. Fr. Joseph speaks several languages.
We look forward to all of you getting to know him, and I know he will be a blessing for our parish and our community.
The Venerable Cardinal Francis Xavier Van Thuan’s own words ( from Bishop John Noonan’s homily on Ordination Day, May 28, 2022)
“You have told me: walk with giant steps,
Go all over the world,
Proclaim the Good News,
Dry the tears of sorrow,
Reassure discouraged hearts,
Embrace the world with the ardor of your love,
Do away with what must be destroyed.
Leave only truth, justice, and love.”
Fr. Joseph, be not afraid. The faithfulness of the Lord is forever. Be an ambassador for Christ. Proclaim the Good News. Let us rejoice and be glad.
Prayer for Priests (from USCCB)
Gracious and loving God, we thank you for the gift of our priests.
Through them, we experience your presence in the sacraments.
Help our priests to be strong in their vocation.
Set their souls on fire with love for your people.
Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom.
Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel.
Allow them to experience joy in their ministry.
Help them to become instruments of your divine grace.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest.
Amen.