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Diocese of Vinh

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Parent: Roman Catholicism in Vietnam Hop 4
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Diocese of Vinh
JurisdictionDiocese
NameVinh
LatinDioecesis Vinhensis
LocalGiáo phận Vinh
CountryVietnam
MetropolitanArchdiocese of Hanoi
RiteLatin Church
CathedralSt. Anthony of Padua Cathedral, Vinh
PatronAnthony of Padua
BishopAlphonse Nguyen Huu Long
Area km222,603
Population6,000,000
Catholics1,000,000
Parishes213
Priests350
Websitegiaophanvinh.net

Diocese of Vinh. The Diocese of Vinh is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory of the Catholic Church in Vietnam, suffragan to the Archdiocese of Hanoi. Established in the mid-19th century, it encompasses a large area of north-central Vietnam and has been a significant center for Vietnamese Catholicism, known for its strong devotional life and historical resilience. The diocese is dedicated to its patron saint, Anthony of Padua, and is currently led by Bishop Alphonse Nguyen Huu Long.

History

The origins of the diocese trace back to the work of missionaries from the Paris Foreign Missions Society in the 17th and 18th centuries, operating within the territories of the Nguyen dynasty and the Tonkin. It was formally erected as the Apostolic Vicariate of Central Tonkin by Pope Pius IX in 1846, during a period of significant growth and occasional persecution under emperors like Minh Mang and Tu Duc. Elevated to a diocese in 1960 by Pope John XXIII through the papal bull *Venerabilium Nostrorum*, it was renamed for its see city of Vinh. The diocese endured severe trials during the Vietnam War, with areas like Quang Binh province heavily affected by the Operation Rolling Thunder bombing campaign, and faced restrictions in the post-war era under the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Leadership

The diocese has been led by a succession of bishops, beginning with its first vicar apostolic, Bishop Pierre-Andre Retord, who served from 1846 until his death in 1858. A notable figure was Cardinal Pierre Nguyen Van Nhon, who served as Bishop of Vinh from 2010 to 2016 before being appointed to the Archdiocese of Hanoi. The current ordinary is Bishop Alphonse Nguyen Huu Long, appointed by Pope Francis in 2016. The episcopal lineage includes several bishops who were members of the Dominican Order, reflecting the early missionary presence of the Order of Preachers in the region alongside the Paris Foreign Missions Society.

Geography

The diocese covers a vast area of 22,603 square kilometers across six provinces in north-central Vietnam: Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thanh Hoa, and a part of Bolikhamsai Province in neighboring Laos. Its territory stretches from the Annamite Range to the coast of the South China Sea, encompassing significant geographic features like the Gianh River and the former Demilitarized Zone. The see city is Vinh, a major urban center in Nghe An province.

Demographics

Within a total population of approximately six million people, the diocese serves a Catholic community of around one million faithful, making it one of the largest dioceses in Vietnam by Catholic population. The faithful are organized into 213 parishes and mission stations, served by about 350 priests, including diocesan clergy and members of religious orders like the Redemptorists and the Dominican Order. The diocese also has a strong presence of religious sisters from congregations such as the Lovers of the Holy Cross.

Significant churches

The principal church is St. Anthony of Padua Cathedral, Vinh, located in Vinh city, which serves as the seat of the bishop. Another major pilgrimage site is the Basilica of Our Lady of La Vang, located in Quang Tri province, a nationally revered sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of La Vang. The diocese also contains the historic Phuong Duc Church and the Xa Doai Church, both known for their architectural significance and active parish communities that date back to the early missionary period.

Ecclesiastical province

The Diocese of Vinh is a suffragan diocese within the Ecclesiastical province of Hanoi. Its metropolitan archbishop is the Archbishop of Hanoi, currently Joseph Vu Van Thien. Other suffragan dioceses in the province include the Diocese of Bui Chu, the Diocese of Hai Phong, the Diocese of Hung Hoa, the Diocese of Lang Son and Cao Bang, the Diocese of Thai Binh, and the Diocese of Thanh Hoa. This provincial structure was established by the Holy See in 1960, reorganizing the Catholic hierarchy in North Vietnam following the Geneva Accords.

Category:Roman Catholic dioceses in Vietnam Category:Religious organizations established in 1846 Category:1846 establishments in Vietnam