Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hanoi
Encyclopedia
Archdiocese of Hanoi is a Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vietnam
. It is one of the earliest in the history of Roman Catholicism in Vietnam
.
The creation of the diocese in present form was declared November 24, 1960. It covers an area of 7,000 km² and headed by Archbishop
Peter Nguyễn Văn Nhơn (from 2010).
The suffragan dioceses are:
Saint Joseph Cathedral
in Hanoi
has been assigned as the Cathedral of the Archdiocese. The Cathedral was built in 1886 in neo-Gothic style. It holds several masses throughout the day and is usually crowded on weekends and religious holidays. Christmas
holiday in 2004 attracted more than 4,000 visitors to the Cathedral.
By 2004, Archdiocese of Hanoi had about 282,886 believers (5.3% of the population), 59 priest
s and 132 parish
es.
The Archdiocese of Hanoi is a "sister" diocese of Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange County
(USA) since 2008.
The young Catholics from the Archdiocese of Hanoi and Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh city formed in 2006 an organization for helping children in rural and underdeveloped areas of Vietnam.
In November, 2006, the Cua Bac Catholic Church in Hanoi
became the venue of joint worship service of the Vietnamese Catholics and Protestants with participation of the United States
President George W. Bush
, who was on an official visit to Vietnam. Cua Bac Church (Northern Gate Church) has regular sermons and services in English language and is often visited by expat
s and tourists.
In December 2007, thousands of Vietnamese Catholics marched in procession to the former apostolic nunciature
in Hanoi (confiscated by the communist government in 1959) and prayed there twice aiming to return the property to the local Church. Despite their initial promise to return the nunciature building to Roman Catholic community, the authorities changed their position in September 2008 and decided to demolish the building to create a public park. The protests of Catholic community were not taken into account.
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. It is one of the earliest in the history of Roman Catholicism in Vietnam
Roman Catholicism in Vietnam
The Roman Catholic Church in Vietnam is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome. Vietnam has the fifth largest Catholic population in Asia, after the Philippines, India, China and Indonesia....
.
The creation of the diocese in present form was declared November 24, 1960. It covers an area of 7,000 km² and headed by Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Peter Nguyễn Văn Nhơn (from 2010).
The suffragan dioceses are:
- Diocese of Bac Ninh
- Diocese of Bùi Chu
- Diocese of Hai Phòng
- Diocese of Hung Hoa
- Diocese of Lang Son and Cao Bang
- Diocese of Phát Diêm
- Diocese of Thai Binh
- Diocese of Thanh HóaDiocese of Thanh HóaThe diocese of Thanh Hóa is a Roman Catholic diocese of Vietnam. The bishop since 2004 is Joseph Nguyễn Chí Linh. Of the three million persons living in its area about 3% are Roman Catholics....
- Diocese of Vinh.
Saint Joseph Cathedral
Saint Joseph Cathedral (Hanoi)
Saint Joseph Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Hanoi, Vietnam. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hanoi. The church was built in 1886 in the neo-gothic style. It holds several masses throughout the day and is usually crowded on weekends and religious holidays. On...
in Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
has been assigned as the Cathedral of the Archdiocese. The Cathedral was built in 1886 in neo-Gothic style. It holds several masses throughout the day and is usually crowded on weekends and religious holidays. Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
holiday in 2004 attracted more than 4,000 visitors to the Cathedral.
By 2004, Archdiocese of Hanoi had about 282,886 believers (5.3% of the population), 59 priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
s and 132 parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es.
The Archdiocese of Hanoi is a "sister" diocese of Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange County
Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church whose territory comprises the whole of Orange County, California, in the United States...
(USA) since 2008.
The young Catholics from the Archdiocese of Hanoi and Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh city formed in 2006 an organization for helping children in rural and underdeveloped areas of Vietnam.
In November, 2006, the Cua Bac Catholic Church in Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
became the venue of joint worship service of the Vietnamese Catholics and Protestants with participation of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, who was on an official visit to Vietnam. Cua Bac Church (Northern Gate Church) has regular sermons and services in English language and is often visited by expat
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
s and tourists.
In December 2007, thousands of Vietnamese Catholics marched in procession to the former apostolic nunciature
Apostolic Nunciature
An Apostolic Nunciature is a top-level diplomatic mission of the Holy See, equivalent to an embassy.The head of the Apostolic Nunciature is called nuncio. A nuncio is an ecclesiastical diplomatic title, derived from the ancient Latin nuntius, meaning messenger...
in Hanoi (confiscated by the communist government in 1959) and prayed there twice aiming to return the property to the local Church. Despite their initial promise to return the nunciature building to Roman Catholic community, the authorities changed their position in September 2008 and decided to demolish the building to create a public park. The protests of Catholic community were not taken into account.