Auxiliary Bishop of Hồ Chí Minh CityNative nameArchdioceseHồ Chí Minh CityProvinceSài GònAppointed1 November 2022Installed3 January 2023Other postTitular Bishop of ArsennariaPrevious postsRector, Saint Joseph Major Seminary of Sài Gòn (2016-2024)OrdersOrdination30 June 1999by Jean-Baptiste Phạm Minh MẫnConsecration3 January 2023by Joseph Nguyễn Năng, Louis Nguyễn Anh Tuấn, and Matthieu Nguyễn Văn KhôiPersonal detailsBornBùi Công Tắc[1] (1965-05-05) 5 May 1965 (age 61)EducationSaint Joseph Major Seminary of Sài GònAlma materPontifical Gregorian UniversityMottoChristus vivit(Christ is alive)(Chúa Kitô đang sống)Coat of armsHistoryOrdained byJean-Baptiste Phạm Minh MẫnDate19 March 1999Ordained byJean-Baptiste Phạm Minh MẫnDate30 June 1999PlaceNotre-Dame Cathedral of Sài GònPrincipal consecratorJoseph Nguyễn NăngCo-consecratorsLouis Nguyễn Anh TuấnMatthieu Nguyễn Văn KhôiDate3 January 2023PlaceArchdiocesean Pastoral Center of Sài Gòn
Joseph Bùi Công Trác (born 5 May 1965) is a Vietnamese Catholic prelate who serves as auxiliary bishop of Hồ Chí Minh City. He was ordained a priest in 1999 and was rector of Saint Joseph Major Seminary of Sài Gòn from 2016 to 2024.[2]
Bùi Công Tắc was born on 5 May 1965 in the city of Đà Lạt in what was then the Republic of Việt Nam.[3] His parents, Joseph Bùi Văn Nhiếp[4] and Teresa Quan Thị Nhân,[5] were both natives of Hà Nội before moving to Đà Lạt. His father also previously served in the government of South Vietnam.[6] He grew up near the Saint Nicholas Cathedral, but at the age of 10, his family moved to Sài Gòn, or what is now Hồ Chí Minh City. According to Trác, his father wanted to name his children after the children of the legendary family (Sơn-Hà-Xã-Tắc), but due to some unknown reason, his name was changed to Trác in the paperwork, along with his brother, who became Xá.[1]
From October 1993 to July 1999, he entered Saint Joseph Major Seminary of Sài Gòn as a seminarian of the seminary’s third class after it was reopened in 1986.[7] This seminary class is considered a “golden class” because of their work in the committees of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Vietnam, seminaries, religious orders, and episcopal sees.[8] Trác was ordained a deacon on 19 March 1999 by Archbishop Jean-Baptiste Phạm Minh Mẫn.[9]
On 30 June 1999, Trác, along with three other future bishops of his same seminary class,[a] were ordained priests for the Archdiocese of Hồ Chí Minh City by Mẫn at the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Sài Gòn.[3]
He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Hồ Chí Minh City on All Saints’ Day 2022.[14] In an interview for the Bishops’ Conference, Trác revealed that the appointment was to be on 29 October 2022 with Dominic Đặng Văn Cầu for the Diocese of Thái Bình, but was postponed due to a retreat that Archbishop Năng had to attend. He also noted in that interview that he has a “great devotion in praying for the souls in purgatory,” and is thankful that his appointment was made during the month of All Souls.[15]
He was ordained bishop on 3 January 2023 at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center and consecrated by Archbishop Joseph Nguyễn Năng. His co-consecrators were Louis Nguyễn Anh Tuấn, Auxiliary Bishop of Hồ Chí Minh City as well as Apostolic Administrator of Hà Tĩnh and Matthieu Nguyễn Văn Khôi, Bishop of Qui Nhơn.[16]
- Catholic Hierarchy: Bishop Joseph Bùi Công Trác
