- Joaquim Magalhães de Castro
The Catholic Church in Vietnam is currently experiencing extraordinary spiritual vitality and growth, consolidating itself as a vibrant minority encompassing approximately 7.4% of the national population (around 7.5 million faithful). The local Catholic community stands out for its strong flourishing of priestly and religious vocations, active and full parishes, and a broad network of socio-educational and charitable activities. This panorama of resilience and pastoral maturity is reflected both in the recent progress of diplomatic negotiations between Hanoi and the Vatican, and in the planning of local bishops to guide the faithful as active missionary disciples, preparing the country for the milestone of 500 years since the arrival of the Gospel in the region. Over the years, sowing the seeds of the Gospel, nearly 500 people from ethnic groups such as the H'Mong, Tày, Red Dao, and Sán Chí have received the Sacrament of Baptism and officially joined the Church. Particularly in the period of 2025-2026, more than 200 people from different ethnic groups were baptized.
Subsequently, the Catholic community was officially elevated to the status of a Catholic parish on October 4, 2025. This newly created parish, pastored by its first parish priest, Father Peter Nguyen Quang Doan, of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, is located approximately 270 kilometers north of the Episcopal House of Bac Ninh. This is one of the most remote and challenging mission territories in the Diocese of Bac Ninh, stretching across a vast mountainous area of approximately 473.64 square kilometers, characterized by steep and rugged terrain and a landscape fragmented into numerous scattered villages in northern Vietnam. The local population is primarily composed of the Hmong and Tay ethnic groups, along with other ethnic communities of the San Chi and Red Dao peoples, who mainly live off agriculture, forestry, and livestock farming for their livelihood.
In 2021, shortly after his priestly ordination, Father Peter Nguyen Quang Doan was appointed assistant parish priest of Bac Kan parish, where he specialized in the mission of the faith community and became responsible for the Catholic locality of Păc Năm. At that time, this community had neither its own church nor land for a pastoral center; therefore, Father Peter Doan rented a small ground-floor house that he used as a private residence and also as a place to celebrate daily Mass for a small congregation of just five migrant families from the Red River Delta in northern Vietnam. Instead of waiting for the locals to come to them, the priest actively entered their lives. Initially, he would go to the local market to chat, build relationships with the residents, and invite them to church. Later, he ventured into the villages to visit families individually and befriend them, participating in everyday conversations and listening attentively. He realized: "to proclaim the Gospel, it is necessary first to understand the local culture, to have empathy for the circumstances of the people and to walk alongside them." Through these simple encounters, people gradually clung to him, wanting to learn more and opening their hearts to faith. And in early 2026, amidst the joy of the entire Catholic community, the Păc Năm church was inaugurated and began to be used as a common space for prayer, the study of catechism and the celebration of daily Holy Mass, replacing the small ground-floor house that had been there for many years. In addition, the church also serves as a cultural meeting point for people from different ethnic groups. Brothers and sisters from ethnic minorities often come here to share, talk to each other, and here indigenous cultures are respected, as well as being accompanied in strengthening their young Catholic faith.
On August 25, 2026, Bishop Joseph Do Quang Khang of the Diocese of Bac Ninh made a pastoral visit to the Parish of Păc Năm. During the visit, he inaugurated the St. Gerard Prayer Room, presided over the blessing of a statue of the Virgin Mary depicted in Hmong ethnic attire, and celebrated the Sacrament of Baptism for 105 catechumens from various ethnic groups, including Hmong, Tay, Red Dao, and San Chi. The colorful ethnic attire, along with the cheerful and radiant faces, full of kind and sincere smiles of the congregation attending Mass, created a charming atmosphere of solemnity and warmth in this mountainous mission region. The image of Our Lady of Păc Năm, dressed in the traditional clothing of the Hmong people, in the midst of the community, symbolizes closeness to the local culture and represents the Mother who constantly accompanies, protects, and leads her children to Jesus.
In his homily, Bishop Joseph Do Quang Khang, of the Diocese of Bac Ninh, could not hide his joy at witnessing the union of these simple and humble souls with the family of the Church, stating: “Today’s fruit is not merely the result of human effort; it is, above all, a gift of God’s grace, which silently sowed, nurtured, and brought forth the seeds of faith amidst so many difficulties and trials.” After receiving the Sacraments, the bishop also invited these 105 newly baptized to cultivate and strengthen their faith, so that they may become witnesses of the Gospel in their families, villages, and local communities. Their own lives can become a tangible and vibrant proclamation of the Gospel in the environment in which they live.