A Vietnamese choir sings during the Mass celebrating Bishop Dennis Walsh’s ordination and installation Sept. 27, 2024 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport.
By Marti Jewell and Dan R. Ebener
The Catholic Messenger
(Editor’s Note: This is the eighth article in a series on multicultural parishes, based on the national research by the authors.)
On June 19, 1988, Pope John Paul II canonized 117 Vietnamese Catholic martyrs who had been tortured and killed in 19th century Vietnam. They represent the more than 130,000 Vietnamese men and women martyred over the course of two centuries. Communist regimes continued to repress Catholicism and, with the fall of Saigon in 1975, the “Vietnamese Diaspora” began — people going to the U.S. and other countries to flee persecution. Religious freedom in Vietnam remains a contentious issue to this day.
That is the background for this eighth article in our series for the Catholic Leadership Institute on parish diversity. We share here what we learned about Vietnamese American Catholics whom we interviewed in five parishes that are at least 30% Vietnamese. Over the past 50 years, the Catholic Church in the U.S. has been a place of welcome for Vietnamese Catholics who, traditionally, had to care for themselves and practice their faith in private.
Like other cultural groups we interviewed, Vietnamese Catholics want good parishes, the ability to worship in their own language and good formation so that they are able to pass on their culture and their faith. The things that stood out for us were the depth of their faith, their devotional spirituality and their reverence for ancestors and elders, while meeting the challenge of enculturating into American life.
Faith Formation
Formation is very important in this community, with children often studying the Catechism in Vietnamese classes. Parents work hard to raise their children as good Catholics, while teaching their ancestral ways, such as the traditional dances. Devotions and the celebration of cultural holidays, such as Tet, structure their faith life.
Spirituality
We encountered a deep spirituality. Pastoral leaders spoke of the high level of Mass attendance among their Vietnamese parishioners and a strong volunteer spirit rooted in duty and loyalty.
Vietnamese Catholics view the Blessed Mother as a major intercessor. Devotion to Our Lady of La Vang, central to Vietnamese Catholicism, began in 1800 when the emperor ordered the persecution of Catholics. To escape, villagers hid in the rainforests of La Vang, where they gathered at night under a particular tree to pray the rosary. One night, the Blessed Mother appeared to them, holding the infant Jesus, and told them to boil leaves from that tree as a curative. This tree, believed to be the ginkgo tree, is now known for its medicinal properties!
Ancestors and Elders
Central to the Vietnamese culture is the ancient practice of honoring ancestors and revering elders. The primary elder is the pastor, who traditionally receives unconditional obedience. He is then followed by the elder males who must always be consulted first in decision-making.
For Vietnamese American Catholics, living in a country that is more youth-centered and less cleric-centric offers unique challenges. Young adults want to move forward while elders grieve the loss of the old ways. But the legacy of steadfast courage in the face of challenges, learned from the Vietnamese martyrs, roots their faith and gives witness to the kingdom of God active throughout the world.
(Marti Jewell, associate professor emerita, is a professor, author and researcher of pastoral leadership. Dan Ebener is a leadership professor for the Master of Organizational Leadership program at St. Ambrose University in Davenport and director of Parish Planning for the Diocese of Davenport).
