Vietnam, dedication of the new church in the village of Bla

Last April 16, the community at the Bla isolated mission station (Vietnam), experienced a day of joy and celebration for the dedication of the village’s new church: not a fleeting happiness, but the joy of life triumphing over death and of hope overcoming all darkness.

The Bla mission station has endured many ups and downs. Starting in 1993, a few ethnic minority people - guided by a Vietnamese Catholic family - began to learn about Catholicism. They persevered through three or four years of study before being baptized as children of God. The distance from their village to the catechism class was long - over twenty kilometers - flanked by dense brush and forest. The road was dusty in the summer and muddy and slippery in the rainy season. Their means of travel back then was an old, beat-up bicycle or simply walking; every few days something would break, forcing them to push the bike the rest of the way.

These hardships forged strong souls, resilient and steadfast in faith. Even when they were summoned to the local commune committee for interrogation, threatened with guns, pressured to renounce their faith, or forced into hard labor for days, they stood firm. Mr. Arich told the authorities: “We cannot abandon our faith because it is in our souls and our hearts. Faith is not like clothes that you can take off whenever you want. Therefore, we cannot give it up.” Instead of fear, their love for God grew more passionate, urging them to courageously proclaim the Gospel to everyone and neighboring villages.

As time passed quietly, the seeds they sowed began to bear fruit. Every year at the Easter Vigil, new members became children of the Light, children of God. As the numbers grew, so did the need for a place to gather for prayer, the Rosary, sharing the Word of God, and celebrating Mass. Thus, in 2010, a chapel was established thanks to the generosity and love for God of Mr. Philip Plâl. It was just a small guest room. Gradually, that small room was renovated and expanded. The authorities created difficulties, forbidding expansion and even demolishing parts of it. However, faced with the strong will and loyalty of the villagers, the authorities eventually allowed religious activities to continue without further interference. Yet the tiny chapel could not meet the needs of the growing congregation, so the Brother Guardian of the Pleiku Fraternity and the Brother in charge of the Bla mission station, together with the villagers, contributed labor and resources, determined to build a new, dignified chapel. With the suggestion of the Provincial Minister and support from the Province, the Fraternity, benefactors, relatives, and locals, a new chapel was finally completed and blessed after eight long months.

The Central Highlands is known as a land of sun and wind, and truly it is. In the sweltering heat of April, on the morning of Thursday, April 16, 2026, the Mass was solemnly celebrated. It was presided over by the Bishop of the Kontum Diocese, mons. Aloisio, alongside his Vicar, and the Minister of the Vietnamese Province “St. Francis of Assisi”, Br. John of God Nguyen. There were also many priests, religious, and faithful, as well as benefactors and relatives from far and wide. This vast and vibrant communion was a beautiful sign of the local Church – a Church united in faith and love.

From early morning, crowds rushed from all directions to the new sanctuary, creating an atmosphere full of joy, happiness, and holiness. The festive mood was amplified by the welcoming ceremony, where the sound of gongs echoed alongside the smooth, graceful Xoang dance of the Bahnar youths.

Before the Mass, at 8:00 AM, the Minister Provincial gave a profound presentation on the Heritage of St. Francis and the core values of Franciscan spirituality. He spoke of radical conversion stemming from two encounters: meeting the leper and meeting the Crucified Jesus at San Damiano. The second heritage is love for the Church and the Eucharist. The third is living in fraternity - being brothers to all people and all creation. Finally, it is the proclamation of the Gospel of peace. His sharing illuminated the meaning of the event: building a sanctuary not just with physical materials, but through a life of poverty, humility, and brotherhood, rooted in the Church and contemplation of the Eucharist and being a proclaimer of faith.

During the Mass, through the liturgy and homily of the Bishop, the community was invited to realize that a church is not just a place for celebrations, but a home of communion - a place where everyone finds peace and is nourished in their life of faith. The joy of this dedication does not end with a finished building; it opens a new journey: building a living community, faithful to the Gospel, and becoming witnesses in the world.

The joy of that day is the joy of a people reborn. From silent sacrifices, sweat, and persistent prayers, everything has crystallized into a sacred place where God dwells among His people. This event will serve as a reminder for all the friars: to remain faithful to the vocation of living “minority” within the Church; to stay close to God’s people, especially communities in need; to become an instrument of peace, contributing to the building of the Church through a simple life of service.

May God, through the intercession of St. Francis of Assisi, continue to bless the Bla community, the Bishop, the priests, religious, benefactors, and all of us - so that each person may become a “living stone” in the house of the Church.

Br. Duc Tri, OFM