The pope has appointed an auxiliary bishop to Vietnam’s largest diocese by way of Catholic inhabitants whereas different dioceses are nonetheless vacant.
Archbishop Marek Zalewski, Singapore-based non-resident pontifical consultant to Vietnam, introduced that on Jan. 16 Pope Francis nominated Auxiliary Bishop John Do Van Ngan as bishop of the southern Diocese of Xuan Loc in Dong Nai province.
Father Joseph Dao Nguyen Vu, head of the Workplace of the Catholic Bishops’ Convention of Vietnam, made the announcement.
Bishop Joseph Dinh Duc Dao of Xuan Loc, native monks, seminarians and Catholics gathered on the Bishop’s Home and congratulated Bishop Ngan and his mom Teresa Ta Thi Ngot, who introduced him up and led him to the priestly vocation after his father died when he was three months outdated and she or he was 22.
Bishop Ngan, who now serves as head of the Episcopal Fee for the Doctrine of Vietnamese Bishops, will succeed Bishop Dao, who turns 76 in March. Bishop Dao, rector of the Catholic Institute of Vietnam and former head of the Episcopal Fee for Catholic Training, ordained Bishop Ngan in 2017.
Bishop Ngan, 67, who can also be a taekwondo martial artist, studied within the Philippines, taught philosophy at Xuan Loc Main Seminary and served as vicar common of the diocese with a million Catholics whose ancestors moved from northern dioceses in 1954 after French troops have been defeated by communist forces.
He would be the sixth bishop of the 56-year-old diocese, which is seen because the nation’s stronghold of the Church.
The diocese has produced Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Nang of Ho Chi Minh Metropolis and Bishop Thomas Vu Dinh Hieu of Bui Chu, the cradle of Catholicism.
The Vatican has not named any new bishops to Vietnam because the appointment of Bishop Joseph Nguyen Duc Cuong of Thanh Hoa in 2018.
The nation has two vacant dioceses — Hai Phong and Phat Diem.
Different dioceses whose bishops handed the retirement age of 75 embrace Ha Tinh, Nha Trang and Thai Binh, which want new episcopal appointments.
Archbishop Marek stated the pope had accepted the resignation of Bishop Dao, who has served the diocese since 2013.
Vietnam has 7 million Catholics out of a complete inhabitants of 96 million in 27 dioceses.
