Peter Dai Bui
Peter Dai Bui | |
|---|---|
| Auxiliary Bishop of Phoenix | |
| Native name | Phêrô Bùi Đại |
| Church | Catholic |
| Diocese | Phoenix |
| Appointed | December 19, 2025 |
| Installed | February 17, 2026 |
| Other post | Titular Bishop of Ausafa |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | December 24, 2003 by Brian Farrell |
| Consecration | February 17, 2026 by John P. Dolan, Thomas Olmsted, and Eduardo Nevares |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Bùi Đại January 11, 1970 |
| Alma mater | Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum |
| Motto | Omnia in caritate fiant[1] (Let all that you do be done in love) (Hãy làm mọi sự vì đức ái) |
| Styles of Peter Dai Bui | |
|---|---|
| Reference style | |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Bishop |
Peter Đại Bùi (born January 11, 1970) is a Vietnamese-born American Catholic prelate who serves as auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Phoenix.
Biography
Early life
Bùi Đại was born on January 11, 1970, in Phú Quốc, in what was then South Vietnam.[3] His father was a fisherman, and he grew up as one of 12 children.[4] When Bui was 6 years old, he and his family were among the boat people who fled Vietnam after the Vietnam War.[5] 49 relatives and neighbors, including Bui's family, fled in his father's fishing boat and were at sea for three days. While at sea, pirates demanded their valuables.[4] Eventually, the whole group arrived in Bangkok and received assistance. Bui and his family were flown to and settled in Houston. A short time after, they moved to New Orleans, where some of his family still resides.[6][5][7]
Deciding to enter the priesthood, Bui entered the Legion of Christ's novitiate in 1989. During that time, he studied at the minor seminary in Cheshire, Connecticut and made his first profession of vows in 1991.[8] He studied at Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome, completing seminary studies in philosophy and theology. He also earned a licentiate in philosophy.[9]
Priesthood
Bui was ordained a priest for the Legion of Christ on December 24, 2003.[8] While a Legion of Christ priest, he served as the chaplain of a Catholic high school school in Caracas, Venezuela.[9][3] He also organized international mission trips to Amazonia and Medellin, Colombia.[8]
In 2007, Bui was appointed to a parish in the Diocese of Phoenix.[3] He ultimately left the Legion of Christ and was incardinated a priest of Phoenix in 2009.[9][8] He served at various parishes in Phoenix from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2017 to 2022.
Bui served at the Vatican on the Pontifical Council Cor Unum for five years from 2011 to 2016.[7] He compared his administrative position with service in the missions saying, "You can make of your desk an altar, to make an offering to the Lord".[10] Due to his service at Cor Unum and the recommendation of Cardinal Robert Sarah, Bui was named a Chaplain to His Holiness by Pope Francis on December 16 2014, receiving the title Monsignor.[5][8][4][11] While serving in Rome, Bui helped arrange a 2015 meeting between Pope Francis and the Harlem Globetrotters.[12]
Following his return from Rome, Bui was appointed Theological Consultant to the Bishops of Phoenix in 2017.[5] Also in 2017, he coordinated a 54-day novena and diocesan consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This devotion called for penance and prayer in the face of war and the issues of pornography and abortion which Bui called "attacks on the family."[13] Since 2022, he has served as Vicar for Clergy for the Phoenix diocese.[14]
On November 15 2022, Bui led a prayer vigil at St. Mary's Basilica to abolish the death penalty in Arizona. This service took place the evening before Murray Hooper's execution.[15]
Auxiliary Bishop of Phoenix
On December 19, 2025, Pope Leo XIV appointed Bui as auxiliary bishop of Phoenix and titular bishop of Ausafa. He is only the second auxiliary in Phoenix's history, following Bishop Eduardo Nevares.[14][16] He also became the fifth Vietnamese American bishop.[17] He will continue to serve as Vicar for Clergy while auxiliary bishop.[7] Bui's episcopal consecration occurred on February 17, 2026 at Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish in Avondale, Arizona[18] celebrated by Bishop John Dolan, assisted by Auxiliary Bishop Nevares, and Bishop-emeritus Thomas Olmsted.[19]
Personal life
Bui is fluent in many languages, including Spanish, German, Italian, English and Vietnamese.[5][14]
In 2022, Bui was invested as a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre.[20]
References
- ^ Selvester, Guy. "Bishop Peter Bui in Phoenix". EXARANDORUM. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ^ Salcido, Gabe (2025-12-19). "Bishop-Elect Peter Dai Bui". Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
- ^ a b c "Resignations and Appointments". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
- ^ a b c Coronel, Joyce (2015-02-27). "Phoenix priest in Rome named 'Chaplain to His Holiness,' monsignor". The Catholic Sun. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
- ^ a b c d e Coronel, Joyce (2017-02-10). "Former refugee turned monsignor will advise bishops of diocese". The Catholic Sun. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
- ^ ""Boat of No Smiles"; Getting to know Bishop-elect Peter Dai Bui, Part 1 of 4". The Catholic Sun. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
- ^ a b c "Pope Leo XIV appoints new auxiliary bishop for Diocese of Phoenix". The Catholic Sun. 2025-12-19. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
- ^ a b c d e "Pope Leo XIV Appoints Monsignor Peter Bui as Auxiliary Bishop of Phoenix | USCCB". www.usccb.org. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
- ^ a b c Payne, Daniel (2025-12-19). "Pope Leo XIV appoints new bishop for Palm Beach, auxiliary bishop for Phoenix". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
- ^ Colegrove, Lauren (2013-04-18). "Vatican office works to create community of 'one heart'". The Catholic Free Press, Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
- ^ "Pope Leo XIV appoints second auxiliary bishop in the history of Phoenix diocese". ABC15 Arizona in Phoenix (KNXV). 2025-12-19. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
- ^ Fox, Joanne. "Iowan behind Globetrotters' meeting with pope says event was unforgettable". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
- ^ "'¡Somos todos Tuyos!'". The Catholic Sun. 2017-10-18. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
- ^ a b c Correa, Adam (2025-12-19). "Pope Leo XIV appoints longtime Valley priest as new auxiliary bishop of Diocese of Phoenix". 12news.com. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
- ^ "NEWS BRIEF: Third prayer vigil this year for an end to the death penalty". The Catholic Sun. 2022-11-16. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
- ^ Cortez, Alexis (2025-12-19). "Longtime priest becomes second-ever auxiliary bishop for Diocese of Phoenix". Arizona's Family. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
- ^ "Thêm một người gốc Việt được Đức Giáo Hoàng bổ nhiệm giám mục tại Mỹ". Người Việt. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
- ^ "Bishop-elect Bui's ordination Mass set for Feb. 17". The Catholic Sun. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ "Bishop-elect Bui steps into new role". The Catholic Sun. 2025-12-19. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
- ^ Romano, Margaret, ed. (April 2023). "Knights of the Holy Sepulchre - Investees" (PDF). The Way. Vol. IV. Los Angeles, CA: Western Lieutenancy Publishing Committee. p. 16.