New Church Opens in Vietnam's Age-Old Subparish

UCANews ^ | 5/10/22

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Catholics in Vinh Lai Subparish have endured suffering due to wars, natural disasters and religious persecution

Catholics attend the inauguration of the new church in Vinh Lai Subparish in Nam Dinh province on May 9. (Photo courtesy of tonggiaophanhanoi.org)

Catholics in northern Vietnam who endured pain and suffering caused by wars, natural disasters and religious persecution have witnessed the opening of a new church.

Cardinal Peter Nguyen Van Nhon, emeritus archbishop of Hanoi, formally blessed the new church in Vinh Lai Subparish in Vu Ban district of Nam Dinh province on May 9.

Some 20 priests joined the special thanksgiving Mass attended by hundreds of people, with many wearing traditional costumes.

Cardinal Nhon said the new church with an area of 300 square meters and a bell tower 25 meters in height is the fourth church built by local people since the early 20th century.

For the first time, local Catholics have attended an inauguration of a church as political and social upheavals halted inauguration of previous churches.

“The building of the new church on the same place as older churches shows the local Catholics have been having absolute trust in divine mercy and persevering in community building for centuries,” the 84-year-old cardinal said.

The history of the local Catholic community is remarkable as the subparish dates back hundreds of years since foreign missionaries brought the Catholic faith to local people, he said.

Cardinal Nhon said that in some difficult times the subparish had a few families after most other people moved to other places to avoid difficulties.