Father Anthony Chinh Quang Dao Named to Head Office for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees
WASHINGTON (July 7, 2003) — Father Anthony Chinh quang Dao, OP, pastor of Our Lady of Lavang church and Vicar for the Vietnamese in the Diocese of Galveston-Houston, has been named Executive Director of the Office for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
Msgr. William P. Fay, USCCB General Secretary, announced the appointment.
"In his scholarly writings and in his pastoral experience, Father Dao brings a wealth of knowledge and skill to this vitally important ministry," Msgr. Fay said. "We are pleased to welcome him to the Conference."
Father Anthony Chinh quang Dao, a member of the Dominican Order, holds a Master of Arts in theology from the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology, Berkeley, California, and a doctorate in Education from the University of Houston.
Father Dao was campus minister, University of Houston, 1983-1986, parochial vicar, Holy Rosary church, Houston, 1986-1990, Provincial Councilor and Promoter for the Laity, Southern Dominican Province, 1988-1993, and Formation Director, St. Mary's Seminary, Houston, 1993-1995. He was named Pastor of Our Lady of Lavang Church and Bishop's Vicar for Vietnamese Catholics in Galveston-Houston in 1995. He also served as a member of the Presbyteral Council of the Galveston-Houston diocese from 1995 to 2001. In 2002 he was named Provincial Councilor, Southern Dominican Province.
Father Dao has taught at the University of St. Thomas and St. Thomas Seminary, Houston, and has been Visiting Professor, Franciscan School of Theology, Berkeley, California.
During the past two decades, Father Dao has lectured widely and has written approximately 45 articles on culture, inculturation, and acculturation, in both English and Vietnamese.
The Office for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees helps to coordinate the efforts of priests, religious and lay leaders in providing pastoral outreach to people on the move, wherever they work and travel in the United States. People on the Move ministries include airport and airline workers and travelers, port and sea chaplains and seafarers, and migrant farm workers.
Father Dao succeeds Father Anthony McGuire who is returning to his home Archdiocese of San Francisco.
As previously announced, Father James M. McCann, SJ, has been named Executive Director of the Office to Aid the Church in Central and Eastern Europe. Most recently Father McCann has been an associate professor of political science and the director of peace studies at Xavier University in Cincinnati.