Nearly 30,000 Catholics from across the Diocese of Xuan Loc converged at the Our Lady of Nui Cui Pilgrimage Center in Vietnam on Nov. 27 for the annual Diocesan Day.
The gathering offered thanksgiving for the close of the 2025 Liturgical Year and entrusted the new pastoral year to God, according to the Vietnamese Bishops’ Council.
The concelebrated Mass was presided over by Bishop John Do Van Ngan, diocesan bishop, with Auxiliary Bishop Dominic Nguyen Tuan Anh, Bishop Joseph Dinh Duc Dao, and Monsignor Vincent Dang Van Tu. Priests, religious, and thousands of lay faithful joined the liturgy.
The gathering opened with an invitation to contemplate God’s blessings over the past year and to look ahead to the 2025–2026 Liturgical Year under the theme, “The Word of God and the Eucharist: The Inner Strength and Purpose of Proclaiming the Gospel.”
The introduction emphasized that “the Church draws life from the table of the Word of God and the table of the Body and Blood of Christ to give to the faithful,” adding that “from this source of strength, every Christian is called to become a missionary disciple, bringing the Gospel to families, parishes, and daily environments.”
Bishop John greeted the assembly and described “the beauty of this graced evening – the weather and, above all, the fervent hearts of the faithful.” He invited the community to give thanks to God and remain united “under the mantle of the Immaculate Conception – Our Lady of Nui Cui.” He also asked for prayers for people “suffering great losses due to storms and floods” and urged the faithful to “work together for unity in the diocese.”
In his homily, the bishop reflected on the mystery of Christ the King as the Church stood at the “threshold” between two liturgical years. He recalled that Christ is “a King without a golden throne, a King on the Cross,” and that the “crown of thorns, the Cross, and His stripped body are His true crown, throne, and royal robe.” He said Christ “conquered sin and death through the Resurrection.”
Bishop John pointed to the Vietnamese Martyrs as witnesses who “anchored their lives to the throne of God” and followed Christ “with steadfast faith.”
The bishop outlined the guidance of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Vietnam, noting that every Christian is called to become a missionary disciple – “You are the light of the world.” He described the Church as “like the moon: it does not shine by itself but reflects the light of Christ.”
For this reason, he said, the Word of God and the Eucharist remain “the essential sources of light and life for Christian witness.”
He identified two pastoral priorities for the year ahead:
• Inner strength: “identifying from whom the faithful live and by what power they live.”
• Purpose: “proclaiming the Gospel to lead all people to the eternal life promised by Christ.”
The bishop also urged the faithful to return to the experience of the Apostles, “those who lived with Jesus, listened to His Word, witnessed His works, and were led into the mystery of God’s love.”
The Mass continued with the Liturgy of the Eucharist. After the Communion prayer, Auxiliary Bishop Dominic expressed gratitude to the bishops, clergy, faithful, and collaborators who helped bring Diocesan Day to fruition.
Father Joseph Doan Xuan Linh, chancellor, later announced the theme for the new liturgical year.
Diocesan Day concluded in “an atmosphere of sacred unity.” The faithful received a blessing with a plenary indulgence, offered “as spiritual strength for entering the 2026 Liturgical Year with renewed hearts, zeal, and mission.”
Under the protection of Our Lady of Nui Cui and Saint Joseph, the diocese affirmed its commitment to the pastoral theme: “The Word of God and the Eucharist: The Inner Strength and Purpose of Proclaiming the Gospel.”
