Dear readers,
We apologize for mistaking “Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul” for “Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres” in the Letter of Bishop of Vinh Long published on 20th of May. Our sincere thanks to Bishop Thomas Nguyen for notifying us of errors in the text.
The correct version follows:
Vinh Long, 18th of May 2008
To priests, religious, and lay people of Vinh Long diocese,
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I am writing this letter in response to your great concerns relating to the Major Seminary on Nguyen Hue street; and to the solicitude of Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul for their monastery on To Thi Huynh street (previously known as Nguyen Truong To).
The September 7, 1977 can be seen as a day of disaster for the diocese of Vinh Long. On that day, the local authorities mobilized its armed force to blockade and raid on Holy Cross College on Pham Thai Buong street (formerly known as Khuu Van Ba), St. Paul monastery, and the Major Seminary. Then, they seized all these properties and arrested those who were in charge of the premises. I myself was among the detainees.
Representatives of the Provincial Superior of Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul and the Bishop office have repeatedly sent petitions to local and central governments. However, these petitions have gone unanswered. Recently, local government of Vinh Long province has issued a decree to build a hotel on the land of 10,235 m2 of Sisters of Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul. Despite the protest of priests at the office of the Fatherland Front, the government has summoned residents in the town to meetings in which they vow to take strong actions against those who dare to prevent the construction.
It is a great suffering of Sisters who have been in Vinh Long since 1871 and have been continuously serving people in the provinces of Ben Tre, Tra Vinh and Vinh Long. It is also a great suffering of the entire diocese. We cannot consent with the decision imposed unjustly by those who have power in their hands, neither we can stay silent in the face of this outrage. Being silent means complicity and a compromise with injustice.
I am convinced that you will be united with each other, and be persistent for justice. In the spirit of solidarity, I ask you to pray earnestly for the diocese and Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul so that we soon overcome these difficulties. Every day, please be united in prayer with us by singing three Hail Mary and the Peace Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi.
In Christ,
+ Bishop Thomas Nguyen Van Tan
Bishop of Vinh Long
Translated from Vietnamese by J.B. An Dang
We apologize for mistaking “Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul” for “Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres” in the Letter of Bishop of Vinh Long published on 20th of May. Our sincere thanks to Bishop Thomas Nguyen for notifying us of errors in the text.
The correct version follows:
Vinh Long, 18th of May 2008
To priests, religious, and lay people of Vinh Long diocese,
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I am writing this letter in response to your great concerns relating to the Major Seminary on Nguyen Hue street; and to the solicitude of Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul for their monastery on To Thi Huynh street (previously known as Nguyen Truong To).
The September 7, 1977 can be seen as a day of disaster for the diocese of Vinh Long. On that day, the local authorities mobilized its armed force to blockade and raid on Holy Cross College on Pham Thai Buong street (formerly known as Khuu Van Ba), St. Paul monastery, and the Major Seminary. Then, they seized all these properties and arrested those who were in charge of the premises. I myself was among the detainees.
Representatives of the Provincial Superior of Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul and the Bishop office have repeatedly sent petitions to local and central governments. However, these petitions have gone unanswered. Recently, local government of Vinh Long province has issued a decree to build a hotel on the land of 10,235 m2 of Sisters of Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul. Despite the protest of priests at the office of the Fatherland Front, the government has summoned residents in the town to meetings in which they vow to take strong actions against those who dare to prevent the construction.
It is a great suffering of Sisters who have been in Vinh Long since 1871 and have been continuously serving people in the provinces of Ben Tre, Tra Vinh and Vinh Long. It is also a great suffering of the entire diocese. We cannot consent with the decision imposed unjustly by those who have power in their hands, neither we can stay silent in the face of this outrage. Being silent means complicity and a compromise with injustice.
I am convinced that you will be united with each other, and be persistent for justice. In the spirit of solidarity, I ask you to pray earnestly for the diocese and Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul so that we soon overcome these difficulties. Every day, please be united in prayer with us by singing three Hail Mary and the Peace Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi.
In Christ,+ Bishop Thomas Nguyen Van Tan
Bishop of Vinh Long
Translated from Vietnamese by J.B. An Dang