Resurrection Parish
Staff & Leaders

  • Rev. Tri van Tran

    Rev. Tri van Tran
    Pastor

    I was born in south Vietnam during the war, oldest of 10 children, as I growing up seeing no future for all of young boys and seeing many death bodies went through the village I thought to myself sooner or latter I will end up like these soldiers, get draft and send out to the battle field and die, so I enjoy my life thinking of life is too short, let have fun. I did not pay much attention to education. In 1975, when the communists from North Vietnam took over the South Vietnam, they closed all schools, churches, and send all the priests and former soldiers to re-education camp. I became a fisherman to help my family to have some extra income. Fishing in Vietnam is a hard job, not a sport. As I was sleep on front section of my father boat out in middle of the sea on the night of the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul I heard the sound of engine getting louder and louder and I heard the begging for supplies, my instinct tells me that this boat is escape the country to find freedom, without second thought, I jumped over to the other boat and hid in front section of the boat until the next morning, many people in that boat were surprised did not know where I came from, but it was too late to send me back. We were 37 people on that boat included Women and children. We were at sea for 3days and 4 nights, we faced many challenges during those days, finally we get rescued by a cargo ship from England and they brought us to an Island south east of Malaysia call Brunei. I lived there for 7 months and got adopted by a family in Depere Wisconsin. I lived with them for 6months then moved to Glendale Heights Illinois to live close by with the Vietnamese community. I went to school; work part-time so I can help my family in Vietnam. After I graduated from DeVry Institute of Technology with an Engineering degree and works for several companies. During this time I sponsor my family and it took about13 years to get my family to this country. They came in the winter of 1995. In 1998, I made a phone call to the vocation office, (still today I am asking myself why I made that phone call to become priest, when I still have a good job and a girlfriend). I guess that the plan that God has for me. I quit my job, saying goodbye to my family and girlfriend and headed to Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corner Wisconsin. It took me 4years in the formation; finally I was ordained as priest by Bishop Imesch in June 2002. My first assignment was at St. Mary of Gostyn as a parochial vicar for 5 years, and then I was transferred to St. Isidore in Bloomingdale for 2years, and first pastorship at St. Mary parish in Park Forest for 4 year. I am still consider myself as a rookies priest and pastor, so I am still have a lot of things to learn As I am now a new pastor of Resurrection Catholic Community, I would like to invite all baptized come together to worship the Lord. God grants us many blessing in our daily lives; in return we need to sing his glories. My focus in this parish is to bring spiritual life to everyone who proclaims I believed in God. Love to see you every weekend mass. May God Bless you all. Peace in Christ, Fr. Tri