Thousands of Catholics in Vietnam marked the Jubilee Year of Hope with a traditional pilgrimage to the Hải Dương shrine last week.
The annual gathering, centered on the theme “Synodal Witness – Source of Hope,” honored the Hải Dương Martyrs and unfolded with solemn liturgies, shared responsibilities, and collective participation.
Organizers emphasized synodality from the outset, with parish councils, pastoral committees, and associations preparing together to ensure the event’s success.
Pilgrims encountered the theme along the route to the shrine, where banners, logos, and symbolic displays underscored the message.
The main stage carried images of missionaries proclaiming the Gospel, the historic execution ground, the Jubilee cross with the Four Hải Dương Martyrs, and the new shrine under construction.
Religious activities during the triduum reflected the same spirit. Holy Hours and Masses involved clergy from different deaneries and choirs from several parishes.
The solemn high Mass brought priests, religious, and faithful together, with liturgical roles shared among communities. The bishop’s homily reinforced the synodal message, which also reached audiences online.
Attendance rose sharply this year, attributed to the Jubilee context and the growing prominence of the shrine. Pilgrims expressed joy at the progress of the shrine’s reconstruction and the revival of ancestral faith traditions.
A highlight was Bishop Vincent Nguyễn Văn Bản’s 44‑kilometer pilgrimage on foot from the diocesan chancery to the shrine, completed over two days, symbolizing the synodal path and the witness of the martyrs.
The celebration affirmed that the Hải Dương Martyrs were not solitary figures but saints who bore witness together.
Their collective witness has become a distinctive mark within the wider group of Vietnamese Martyrs and now serves as a model for the Church’s synodal journey.
The shrine has adopted “Synodal Witness” as its motto, guiding its future development and offering a message to all pilgrims.
