Fr. Anthony Dang joined the NDP family as our chaplain on July 1, 2025.

Ordained in 2022, Fr. Anthony has spent the first three years of his priesthood ministering to young adults at the Holy Trinity Newman Center at Northern Arizona University (NAU). He is excited to bring his experience working with college students to NDP. 

"My hope for this year at NDP is that every student gets to have a life-changing encounter with Jesus," he said. "Another hope is that every student develops the habit of being a friend for others."

Fr. Anthony is the oldest of four children. He grew up in Tempe and felt called to the priesthood as a teenager. "I really felt the love of Jesus when I went on a Life Teen Summer Camp. I was about 16 years old. It was during an adoration night that I felt that Jesus loved me for who I was. I felt a great sense of peace and joy," he recalled. 

He is excited to get to work on our campus and meet the students because he firmly believes in Catholic Education and the importance of listening and being present to young people so that their theological questions can be answered and their faith will grow. 

"Catholic Education is necessary and important because it allows each student to have the opportunity to grow into the person God made them to be," he explained.  "The more a student integrates the gifts God has given him or her, the more motivated and willing a student will be to bring peace and love to the world," he added.

Fr. Anthony is ready and eager to meet the students where they are. "We are blessed to have such a joy-filled chaplain who has experience working with young people and understands what they need," Principal Brie Dragonetti said. "The fact that he is coming from a Newman Center is a big plus for our students."

Newman Centers are Catholic campus ministry centers located at non-Catholic universities. They draw inspiration from St. John Henry Newman's writings and provide sacraments, spiritual formation, social events, and service opportunities for college students.

Fr. Dang draws strength from his favorite Bible verse, John 17:18, "As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world."

He explained, "This verse speaks to me because it reminds me how Jesus sent me into the world to bring the Good News to others."