Father Maher Discusses Higher Education Opportunities For Vietnamese Students With Catholic Cardinal In Vietnam
The Rev. James J. Maher, C.M., president of Niagara University, met with Vietnamese Cardinal Pierre Nguyen Van Nhon during a trip to Hanoi this week.
The discussion between Father Maher, a Catholic and Vincentian priest, and Catholic Cardinal Nguyen, who was appointed to his position by Pope Francis in January 2015, focused on higher education opportunities for young Vietnamese students studying in the United States, and an English language and development training program for Vietnamese religious members.
“Cardinal Nguyen recognizes the vast educational opportunities that exist in the West for Vietnamese students, priests and seminarians. We had several productive conversations regarding how Niagara University can be involved in facilitating these opportunities,” Father Maher said. “It was an honor to spend time with Cardinal Nguyen and I am eager to work with him as we discern new ways to build global bridges in the vision of Pope Francis during this Year of Mercy.”
Niagara University has sought to strengthen its ties to Vietnam under Father Maher’s presidency. In January, the university entered into a formal international partnership to develop curricula for a new Vietnamese hospitality and tourism training center. Last summer, about 250 members of the Miền Đông Bắc Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement converged on Monteagle Ridge for a major convention. And, in May, a dozen MBA students from Niagara participated in a 13-day Global Trade Mission to the Southeast Asian nation, marking the first time the annual venture took place in Vietnam.