Bishop Joseph Trân Văn Toàn

Joseph Trần Văn Toản was born on April 7, 1955, in Thái Bình, North Vietnam, though he was civilly registered in Quảng Nam Province, within the Diocese of Đà Nẵng. He underwent priestly formation from 1966 to 1974 at the Minor Seminary of the Diocese of Long Xuyên, and subsequently, from 1974 to 1981, at the Major Seminary of the same diocese. He served for eleven years in the parishes of Môi Khôi and Thanh Quới (Diocese of Long Xuyên) while awaiting government permission for priestly ordination. He was ordained a priest on January 16, 1992, and incardinated into the Diocese of Long Xuyên. Following his ordination, he held the following positions: 1992–1999: Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of the Rosary, Làng Sen (Vinh Thanh Deanery, Diocese of Long Xuyên); 2000–2005: Studies at De La Salle University in Manila, Philippines, where he obtained a Doctorate in Education; from 2006: Director of the Pastoral Center and Coordinator of the Diocese's pastoral and missionary activities, Rector of St. Theresa Minor Seminary, and Professor of Missiology at the Inter-diocesan Major Seminary of Cần Thơ.