A joyful and energetic Redemptorist missionary, Father Nguyen sprinkled conversations with humor and never met a stranger, welcoming one and all with an inclusive, loving spirit. Nho Thi Nguyen and Ui Van Nguyen welcomed Gan Minh on Aug. 7, 1964 in Vietnam. He grew up in a large family of 14 children and was 11 years old when his family fled Vietnam and immigrated to the United States. They settled in Biloxi, Mississippi, where Gan became involved in the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement in grade school. He completed high school and earned a degree in electronic engineering technology, but the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement had nourished his vocation call. He remained involved in that organization and was devoted to youth ministry for his entire life.

He began Redemptorist formation with the Extra Patriam Vice Province in California but eventually transferred to the former Vice Province of New Orleans. He professed first vows on July 31, 1993 and perpetual vows on Sept. 7, 1997. During his years in formation, he gained practical experience serving in parish and youth ministry at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Chicago and St. Gerard Majella Parish in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was ordained to the priesthood on Feb. 14, 1998 in Baton Rouge and immediately joined the staff as a parish priest. A year later he was appointed at Holy Ghost Parish in Houston, where he held additional responsibilities as community bursar.

Father Nguyen joined the Redemptorist Mission Team at St. Michael’s in Chicago in 2008. He enjoyed traveling across the country to preach parish missions, always allowing time to personally visit family members and friends living throughout the United States. He was appointed at Liguori Mission House in Liguori in 2010. Although he remained attached to the community, he served five of the next six years as a military chaplain at White Sands Missile Range in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Father Nguyen returned to Houston in 2016 as parochial vicar of Holy Ghost Church. Three years later, he was appointed local superior of the St. Clement Redemptorist Mission Community in Liguori. He is remembered for welcoming one and all to St. Clement’s and hosting large gatherings at every opportunity. He instituted an All Souls Day Mass at the Redemptorist Cemetery, which has become an important annual tradition for the local community.

He was appointed associate pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Redemptorist Parish in Kansas City last year. He quickly became involved in the community, and served the parish until his unexpected death. He recently summed up his life as, “I’m a fisherman by trade; an electronic engineer by profession; and a Redemptorist priest by choice.”

Burial will be at the Redemptorist Cemetery in Liguori.