Fr Truc Quoc Phan SVD has bid a fond farewell to the parishioners of Emerald Parish in Queensland’s Central Highlands to move to Sydney and take up the role of Mission Secretary for the SVD Australia Province.

Fr Truc has been Parish Priest of St Patrick’s Parish in Emerald and its surrounding communities for six years, with his farewell Masses across the vast rural district having seen him drive a total of 900km

As well as Emerald itself, the parish also includes the faith communities of Anakie, Willows, and Sapphire. Fr Truc also bid farewell to the Parish of Springsure-Rolleston, where he has been acting as Administrator and the Parish of Blackwater-Dingo-Duaringa-Woorabinda which was previously under his pastoral care. In addition to his parish duties, Fr Truc has also been chaplain to the Vietnamese community in Rockhampton.

Fr Truc's final Emerald Masses on June 20 and 21 were followed by a farewell morning tea filled with gratitude, good wishes and the warm country hospitality for which the local people are known.

In a farewell message to parishioners, Fr Truc said that leaving the people he has come to know and love is not easy.

“Leaving is not easy because this region has become much more than a place where I lived and worked - it has become my home,” he said.

“Over these years, I have been privileged to share in your lives, celebrations, challenges, and achievements. The kindness, friendship, and support I have received from so many people have been a constant source of encouragement and joy.”

Fr Truc said he was deeply grateful to the people for their warmth, generosity, and spirit of community which have enriched his life in countless ways.

“As I leave, I carry with me many treasured memories and lasting friendships. I will always remember the people who welcomed me, worked alongside me, and shared their lives with me. Although I’m moving on, a part of my heart will always remain in the Central Highlands,” he said.

“Thank you for your friendship, support, and the privilege of being part of your communities for the past six years. 

“I humbly ask for your prayers as I begin the challenging responsibility of serving as Mission Secretary for our Congregation in Sydney. Please know that you will continue to be remembered in my thoughts and prayers.”

Among those paying tribute to Fr Truc before his departure was Principal of Marist College in Emerald, Mr Mark Green.

The College acknowledged and thanked Fr Truc during a Mass with the College community at the school, with Mr Green acknowledging Fr Truc’s arrival during the challenging time of the pandemic.

“Beginning his ministry amid the uncertainty and disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, he quickly became a valued and reassuring presence within our parish, school and wider community,” he said.

“Over the past six years, Father Truc has been a regular and much-appreciated part of life at Marist College. He has celebrated countless school Masses and liturgies, supported students and staff through important moments of faith and reflection, and enthusiastically attended many of our major events, including musicals, presentation nights, Christmas carols and our graduation ceremonies.

“As a member of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), Father Truc has embodied the missionary spirit of his congregation through his humility, generosity and commitment to serving others.

“His presence has enriched our community, and his contribution will not be forgotten.”

St Patrick’s Catholic School in Emerald also farewelled Fr Truc at a Mass and wished him well.

“We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Fr Truc for his inspiring pastoral leadership and constant support of our St Patrick’s School community,” the school said in a Facebook post.

“As he steps into this new role, we pray that Christ continues to bless his faithful service and guide him in his ministry.”

Fr Truc is well experienced for his new appointment as Mission Secretary of the SVD Aus Province, having served two three-year terms as Mission Secretary from 2014-2020.

“I am being recycled,” he joked.

He said he was surprised to be invited by the new Provincial, Fr Boni Buahendri SVD and the Provincial Council to take up the position again.

“Having been the Mission Secretary before does give me a certain confidence in how I can approach the job. I can’t promise I will do a great job, but I will do my best,” he said.

Fr Truc, who was born and raised in rural Vietnam, completed his missionary formation in Australia and was ordained to the priesthood in 2006. His first assignment was to Thailand in 2007, where he served as parish priest of three small parishes in the countryside, along the Mekong River.

He returned to Australia in late 2013, serving as Assistant Priest and Chaplain to the Vietnamese Community at St Mark’s Parish in Inala, Brisbane for four-and-a-half months before being appointed as Mission Secretary.

During his term as Mission Secretary, Fr Truc was based at the SVD’s provincial offices in Marsfield, Sydney, but also spent time in the mission field, working for a year in Myanmar to renovate and prepare a house for the establishment of the SVD Australia Province’s missionary endeavour in that country. During his second term in the role, he was also appointed as Mission Coordinator for the ASPAC region.

Fr Truc said that while he brings more pastoral experience to his second term as Mission Secretary, thanks to his years in Emerald, the role itself retains the same areas of focus.

“The responsibilities of the Mission Secretary are described in the Constitutions of the SVD,” he said. “There are three key roles: Mission Animation; Taking care of missionaries; and raising funds for mission.”

Fr Truc said the Australia Province has been blessed with generous benefactors and partners in mission over the years who continue to support SVD mission both overseas and within the province.

“Fundraising is really about relationship,” he said. “It’s about building relationships and nurturing those friendships and we are blessed to have strong relationships like that. But we are also looking to reach new people, who might not know so much about the Divine Word Missionaries, and extend the invitation to them, too.”

He said that a focus in recent years, under Mission Secretary Fr Viet Nguyen SVD, has been to strengthen bonds with migrant and ethnic communities with whom the SVD has pastoral ministry, including printing copies of Society Matters in the Vietnamese language in order to share mission news with them.

“There are lots of possibilities to explore. In the end, we are trying to invite people to join us in Christ’s Mission, in whatever way they can. And we are very grateful for all of our partners in mission.”