Christ the King Parish in High Point welcomed Bishop Peter Jugis, who offered Mass with Father Joseph Dinh, pastor, (pictured at left) as concelebrant in the newly renovated church to mark its 80th anniversary in 2021. Father Dinh is known as “the smiling priest” for his joyful attitude. (Photos provided) HIGH POINT — Father Joseph Dinh likes to reflect on the fact that some people have nicknamed him “the smiling priest.”
The pastor of Christ the King Parish is known for usually having a smile on his face when he greets parishioners or goes about his daily duties.
As he celebrated the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on June 3, he said that smile comes from a wellspring of deep joy he finds in serving God.
“For me, priesthood is more than happiness or fun – it’s the deep and profound joy I find in the presence of God,” he said. “I believe that joy is the sign of God’s presence in our life, and the Lord has filled me with peace and joy which brings me closer to Him and closer to others.”
His constant positive attitude developed after he went through some very challenging and sad experiences on his journey to the priesthood.
At age 11, he entered a minor seminary in his native Vietnam to pursue the vocation he’d felt since he was a young child. Entering seminary at such a young age is traditional in that nation, he said.
It was also not unusual for people in his family to discern religious vocations. His late father studied in a seminary for a few years.
Father Dinh was one of three of nine children who pursued a vocation. One of his sisters was a nun and a brother had entered a monastery before both were forced to abandon their vocations when the Communist government in Vietnam closed convents and monasteries.
The Vietnam War caused a great loss for Father Dinh and his family. He tells the story quietly.
“My father was a high officer who had worked for the Americans during the Vietnam War, and after the Fall of Saigon in 1975 he could have left, but he did not want to leave my family,” Father Dinh said. “He knew if he stayed, he could be tortured to death, but he chose to stay, and he was put into prison after Saigon fell.”
One year later, his father died in prison at age 50.
That would devastate some people, but Father Dinh said his family’s experience has helped him find greater joy in serving God.
“For me to celebrate my silver jubilee is not an accomplishment – it’s an act of gratitude to God for all the blessings I have received from the Lord,” he said.
Escape to the United States
Father Dinh had been in the minor seminary for several years when the Communist regime in Vietnam shut it down, along with many other houses of worship and religious institutions. He was forced to leave and head home to his remaining family but had a major problem: he had no official identification or other documents.
“Without documents at that time, the Communist police could arrest me and put me in prison anytime, so there was only one solution for me to survive and continue to pursue my vocation,” he said. “That was to escape from Vietnam by boat.”
He took that fateful boat trip in 1987 and made it to a refugee camp in Thailand, where his application to come to the United States eventually was accepted. After six months studying English in the Philippines, he spent a year working to help his family back in Vietnam and then entered seminary at Divine Word Seminary in Iowa.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, he applied to study for the priesthood in the Diocese of Charlotte because friends had recommended the area. Then Bishop
William Curlin accepted his application, and he completed his formation at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore.
Because his father had died at the hands of the Vietnamese government, Father Dinh was able to bring the rest of his family to the United States in 1993. Most of them settled in Charlotte, while some relatives now live in Raleigh, South Carolina and Iowa.
A legacy of service
His work as a diocesan priest has taken him to all three regions of the diocese – the Triad, Charlotte and the mountains.
After ordination, he first served as parochial vicar at Sacred Heart Parish in Salisbury and then St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville. He later moved to Charlotte to serve at Holy Trinity Middle School and parochial vicar at St. Ann Parish before receiving his first assignment as pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Jefferson.
He also served as pastor at St. Joseph of the Hills Parish in Eden before becoming pastor in High Point in 2017. There he remains busy serving a diverse parish – offering Masses in Vietnamese, Spanish and English every Sunday.
Father Dinh said he takes the motto for his priesthood from Luke 17:10, which focuses on the attitude of a servant.
“I can see that my priesthood is a vehicle, a way to serve God and to serve others with humility, joy and commitment,” he said. “I did face challenges and difficulties on the way, but I believe God gave me the courage and joy to come through, and I remain open to the joy of the Lord.”
— Christina Lee Knauss