Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bà Ria (Fides Service) - On the last lap of his pastoral visit to the Catholic Church in Vietnam Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples was present for the inauguration of the new diocese of Bà Ria, created by Pope Benedict XVI on 22 November and the installation of the new bishop, Bishop Thomas Nguyen Van Tram. “Pope Benedict XVI is present in our midst in spirit - the Cardinal Sepe in his address at the founding ceremony of the new diocese in the morning of 5 December -, and with his words, in the Apostolic Bull with which he created the new diocese and appointed the first bishop. I have the honour of passing his warm greetings and his apostolic blessing on to you. It is for me a great honour to be here with you on this solemn and historic occasion”.
After calling those present to renew their loyalty to the successor of Peter and to pray for the Pope’s ministry, Cardinal Sepe said the Church in Vietnam is living “an important page in his history, a page of joy and hope”. The creation of a new diocese is a sign that this Church is growing and active and this is a “cause for joy in the universal Church” and a motive of hope for the future. The Cardinal thanked those who collaborate to meet the spiritual needs of the people. He greeted the Cardinal Archbishop of Ho Chi Minh City, the other Bishops of Vietnam, and the first bishop of the new diocese bishop Thomas Nguyen Van Tram, and the people of the mother diocese of Xuan Loc. Lastly he encouraged the priests, religious and lay people of the new diocese to work together for more effective missionary activity in the spirit of the early Christian communities. “Bà Ria! Tu you are now known to the universal Church, you are among the list of Bishops’ Sees, you are the 26th diocese in Vietnam, and you have a mission: to grow in the holiness, charity, justice and truth of Christ so the world may see you light and good works and glorify the Father in heaven”.
In his homily during Mass at the parish church now raised to the dignity of the cathedral of the new diocese Cardinal Sepe reflected on the significance of this new local Church in Ba Ria “which renders the Church of Christ visible in this region of Vietnam” and on the ministry of the bishop, a successor of the apostles, with the duty to lead the community and make it grow in faith, hope and charity and to guarantee communion with the universal Church.
“Dear brothers and sisters this new diocese is a concrete sign of God’s love for you. He gives you the wonderful gift of forming a Christian community led by your own Bishop always present among you to help you attain sanctification. Be active and generous members of this new diocesan family. Share your talents to build up this Church, this living temple, this mystical body that it may grow and be ever more beautiful and strong in faith before God and before the people of Vietnam”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 6/12/2005, righe 38; parole 562)
