The Crosses We Carry on our Journey of Faith
In this sacred Lenten season, Bishop John Nhan Tran of the Archdiocese of Atlanta invites us to pause, to breathe, and to enter more deeply into the mystery of our faith.
We are called to reflect on the crosses we each carry—those quiet burdens, unseen sacrifices, and hidden struggles that draw us closer to Christ when we surrender them to His love.
We welcome you to a time of renewal and grace during this Lenten mission, offered:
Monday, March 2 and Tuesday, March 3, 2026
7:00 PM in the Sanctuary
Come as you are. No RSVP is needed.
Simply bring your heart, your hopes, and your desire to journey with the Lord.
If you feel moved to support this mission, online donations are gratefully received.
Thank you for your generosity, and may God bless you abundantly during this holy season.
Biography of Trần Văn Nhàn
Trần Văn Nhàn was born South Vietnam on February 6, 1966, to Dung Van Tran and Lai Thi Nguyen. When Tran was two years old, his mother was shot and killed during the Vietnam War. Tran’s older brother was also killed by a land mine. When Tran was nine, his family fled from Saigon, South Vietnam on a small boat. Running out of water, they were rescued from the South China Sea by an American ship. The family was later resettled in New Orleans, Louisiana.
After primary school, Tran first attended Junior High School in New Orleans. Deciding that he wanted to become a priest, he was accepted into the high school program of the Congregation of the Mother of the Redeemer in Missouri, for the 8th grade in the school year of 1979–1980. He ended up only staying for three days before family circumstances caused him to drop out. Tran then transferred to a boarding high school in Goshen, New York, operated by the Salesians of Don Bosco. The Salesians brought Tran to Louisiana to attend Saint Joseph Seminary College in Louisiana. After graduating, he attended Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans and graduated there in 1992.
Priesthood
Tran was ordained to the priesthood on May 30, 1992, for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned Tran as parochial vicar at the following Louisiana parishes. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, he celebrated Mass for first responders and other personnel in parking lots and nursing homes.
During his time in New Orleans, Tran served on the priest personnel board and as chair of the presbyteral council. He was also dean of the St. John-St. Charles Deanery. Tran is fluent in Vietnamese and English. In 2015, Tran donated a kidney to Thanh Nguyen, a friend from Saint Joseph Seminary who was suffering kidney failure.
Episcopacy
Tran was appointed an auxiliary bishop of Atlanta and titular bishop of by Pope Francis on October 25, 2022, consecrated by Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer on January 23, 2023. He subsequently became the third Vietnamese American bishop.