Vietnamese-born seminarian for diocese killed by hit-and-run driver

PISCATAWAY — Seminarian Ngu Quoc Tran, or “Peter,” as he was affectionately called by those who knew him, lost his life in a hit-and-run accident in the East Side of Manhattan, N.Y., May 11.
 

“Any time we hear of the sudden loss of life, especially the loss of someone so young, it is heartbreaking,” said Bishop James F. Checchio. “But the tragic loss of Peter – the loss to his family, to his brother seminarians and to our local Church — is immense and would be insufferable without our Catholic faith and trust in our Heavenly Father, so I ask you to please join me in praying for Peter, his family and the many affected by this terrible loss.”
 

A seminarian for the diocese and a first-year theology student at Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University, South Orange, Tran, 29, was killed while walking. The driver, who was reported to be intoxicated, fled the scene and was later arrested that same night when his car was involved in another collision and was identified as the car that hit Tran.

Upon hearing the news, Bishop Checchio first turned to the Lord in prayer and then drove to Immaculate Conception Seminary, where he celebrated Mass and visited with the seminarians there. Msgr. John N. Fell, diocesan director of seminarians; Father Mauricio Tabera-Vasquez, vocations recruiter for the diocese; and Father Peter Tran, pastor, Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish, South Plainfield, and coordinator of our diocesan Vietnamese Apostolate, also went to the seminary and concelebrated the Mass.
 

“Peter was a prayerful and loving person who was always at the service of others,” said Bishop Checchio. “He was well-known in our parishes and was a welcoming face, always talking with the parishioners after Mass and building friendships with those serving in parish ministries. He will be incredibly missed in our diocese.”
 

In the diocese, he served in summer assignments at Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish, South Plainfield; St. James the Less Parish, Jamesburg; St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, Bridgewater; and the Parish of the Visitation, New Brunswick.
 

Before beginning his studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Tran lived at the St. John Vianney House of Discernment, Highland Park, a place where men who are working or attending college can live as they discern their vocational calling and the possibility of priesthood.
 

In spring 2018, he began pre-theology studies at St. Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, Pa., and continued his priestly formation at Immaculate Conception Seminary in the fall of 2019.
 

In his application essay to become a seminarian of the diocese, Tran wrote that it had always been a dream of his, and what he felt was his vocational calling, to become a shepherd after the heart of the Good Shepherd of Jesus Christ.
 

“I believe that Jesus Christ has given me His Cross because He is the only way to eternal life,” Tran wrote. “He challenges me and is always beside me to support me and to listen to my prayers. Thanks to the mercy and grace of the Lord, I am called to proclaim His death and confess His resurrection.”
 

Tran was born and raised in the An Giang Province in the south of Vietnam. He was the son of Khai Quang Tran and Bich Thi Ngoc and was one of six siblings.
 

While studying at the University of An Giang, he lived at a pre-seminary community of the Diocese of Longxuyen and worked for the Catholic Youth Association of the diocese. He graduated in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature. Before coming to the United States in August 2017, he worked as an English teacher and also taught English, Math, Scripture and Catholic studies for those in need.
 

Funeral arrangements were pending as of May 12.
 

“From every interaction with Peter, even from his application to become a seminarian for our diocese, it was evident that he had a strong friendship with Jesus Christ, a great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, and a love for our Blessed Mother,” said Bishop Checchio. “He was a prayerful and faithful man, so even through this challenging time, I know he would encourage prayer. Through our sorrows and pain, our Blessed Mother is with us and is undoubtedly accompanying Peter to the merciful embrace of her son, Jesus.”