In the quiet early hours of Friday, 13 June 2025, in the comfort of her family home in Springvale, Victoria, Maria Mung Thi Nguyen – the beloved mother of Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta – passed away peacefully at the age of 98, surrounded by the love of her family.
Born on 21 October 1927, Maria’s life was defined by unwavering faith, deep love, and extraordinary sacrifice.
Please read Bishop Vincent’s biography of his mother, below.
Image: supplied.
A difficult journey
Her story was interwoven with the turbulent history of Vietnam. Having witnessed the cruelty and oppression of communism firsthand, the family, in different stages, fled their family village of Dong Nai.
Bishop Vincent’s two eldest brothers resettled in Holland. In 1980, he made his own perilous journey by boat to Malaysia, accompanied by his sister-in-law and her two young children – an 18-month-old boy and a baby girl just six months old.
Maria and her husband Joseph sought refuge in Australia – a land where, like many refugees, they faced an unfamiliar language and culture, had no income, and shouldered the responsibility of supporting their family.
Despite the uncertainty, Maria carried with her a strength and hope embedded in Christ that would lay the foundation for her family’s future.
The Nguyen children were scattered across the world: Maria and Joseph lived in Melbourne with their sons and daughter, three sons settled in Holland, one daughter remained in Vietnam, and after being an Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Melbourne, Pope Francis named Bishop Vincent as the fourth bishop of Parramatta in 2016, where he’s been living since. Notwithstanding many years and great distances, Maria remained the heart of her family as a pillar of faith, strength and love.
A nurturer by nature
Bishop Vincent and his mother shared many bonds, among them a deep love of gardening. She cared for her garden in Melbourne with quiet devotion, and those peaceful moments remain some of Bishop Vincent’s most cherished memories.
To this day, Bishop Vincent still tends to the topiary garden at the front and the greenhouse garden full of plants and herbs, referring to it as his “sacred space”.
Bishop Vincent pictured with his mum, his lifelong source of wisdom and support. Image: supplied.
Faith at the heart
Maria Thi Mung Nguyen was a faithful and steady presence at St Joseph’s Church in Springvale, quietly nurtured by the pastoral care of the Conventual Franciscans. Her gentle faith and quiet strength were a source of enduring support for both her family and the wider community.
The church bulletin noted:
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to Bishop Vincent and his family on the passing of his beloved mother, Maria Thi Mung Nguyen. May the Lord, in His love and mercy, welcome her into His kingdom and grant her a share in the glory of Christ’s Resurrection.”
Fr Peter Ly Trọng Danh, CSsR, of the Shrine of Our Lady of Lavang in Keysborough, shared his condolences on behalf of the local Vietnamese community:
“We would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to you, [Bishop], and to all of your family… in the Family Prayer of our congregation.”
Parishes across the Diocese have also expressed their sympathies on social media, reflecting the legacy of Maria’s life and the deep respect held for her and her family.
The Requiem Mass for Maria will be held this Friday, 20 June at 10.30am at the Our Lady of La Vang Shrine in Keysborough, Victoria.
It will be livestreamed here: https://youtube.com/live/2EJoVHrxWmk
Please hold Bishop Vincent and his family in your prayers. Requiescat in pace.
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace. Amen.
Image: supplied.
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A brief life story of our beloved mother
By Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv
Our beloved mother was born on 21 October 1927. She was named “Mừng” meaning Joy. Her father died young and left his widowed wife with two infant daughters, our mum and her younger sister “Thê” (deceased).
Mum grew up in a devout Catholic family. Life was extremely hard due to the volatile political situation at the time. Vietnam was part of a weakened French Empire. Wars were waged constantly among different opposing forces including the French, Japanese, Chinese and various Vietnamese Independence Fronts. In 1945, mass starvation caused the deaths of over a million people.
Mum was married to dad Quang (Bright) who lived in the neighbouring hamlet on 10 October 1947. In 1954, they escaped communist-ruled North and went 1,500km South on a ship. As a result, she was separated from her mother and sister. They would not see one another again until 1977.
Like many refugees, mum and dad were on the move constantly. In 1961, they finally settled in a small village 80kms North of Saigon. They worked on a small farm and built their home. Though being a full-time mother of eight children (one died very young), she did not have the luxury of being a stay-at-home mother.
After the communist takeover of South Vietnam in 1975, they enabled their adult sons to go abroad and find freedom and better opportunities. They remained to care for their elderly grandmothers.
In 1991, they migrated to Australia under the family reunion program. They lived in Springvale, Victoria and found new connections, especially among the Vietnamese Catholic Community.
In 1993, they went to Rome to visit Fr Vincent who was studying there. They met Pope John Paul II personally. That was the biggest thrill of their lives.
This was followed by another blessing which was the day their son, Fr Vincent was made a bishop in 2011.
Mum’s life had distinct periods: the first was spent in North Vietnam for 27 years. It was marked by dramatic events culminating in the mass migration in 1954. The second lasted for the next 36 years in various parts of South Vietnam. She was a breadwinner and homemaker at the same time. The final chapter was spent in Australia, for nearly 35 years. It was perhaps the best part of her life. She made new friends, joined many church groups, went to Mass almost every day, met the Pope, married off all her children and saw her son ordained a bishop.
In 2014, while attending the hour of Divine Mercy in church, her husband died at home, leaving her in profound grief. They had been married for 67 years. Like Anna in the Gospel, she spent her final years of widowhood in solitude and prayer. Her biggest joy was to go to Mass as often as she could. Thanks to her carer, this joy was fulfilled almost daily until she died, peacefully on the feast of St Anthony 13 June 2025, surrounded by four of her seven living children.
May she rest in peace.
