A senior Vietnamese Church official urged Catholics to reject division and embrace missionary witness during a pilgrimage marking the 69th anniversary of the Diocese of Nha Trang.
Bishop Joseph Huỳnh Văn Sỹ of Nha Trang delivered the message during a July 4 diocesan pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, where priests, religious, and lay faithful from across the diocese gathered for a Mass of thanksgiving to God and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The pilgrimage is one of the few occasions each year when the diocesan bishop, clergy, religious, and Catholics from every parish come together in a common celebration of faith.
Reflecting on the diocese’s 69-year history, Bishop Huỳnh invited the faithful to remember both the hardships and the blessings that have shaped the local Church.
He said many younger Catholics had not experienced the difficult years when families and communities preserved their faith through periods of profound national change.
He said the anniversary offered an opportunity to recognize God’s enduring love for the Diocese of Nha Trang and to join Mary in the spirit of the Magnificat, offering praise and thanksgiving to God.
Drawing from the Gospel canticle, the bishop reflected on three themes: humility, gratitude rooted in the experience of God’s love, and a commitment to missionary service.
On humility, Bishop Huỳnh said authentic thanksgiving begins with a humble heart. He pointed to Mary, who, despite being the Mother of God, continued to regard herself as the Lord’s humble servant.
He said Christians who lack humility can become satisfied with their own accomplishments and lose the ability to offer sincere thanks to God.
The bishop said genuine gratitude must grow out of a personal experience of God’s love rather than simply following the example of others.
Recalling the diocese’s journey through war and the migration of Catholics from northern to southern Vietnam, he said its history showed how God had guided and protected His people across generations.
Bishop Huỳnh also said fellow bishops often praised the Diocese of Nha Trang for the vitality of its faith, including its religious communities, clergy, and lay faithful. He said those blessings were the fruit of generations of Catholics who quietly dedicated their lives, resources, and service to building the local Church.
He then called on the faithful to respond with concrete acts of missionary discipleship, drawing inspiration from Mary’s visit to Elizabeth after the Annunciation.
The bishop also warned against attitudes that undermine communion within the Church, urging Catholics to avoid “speaking ill of one another, recounting each other’s faults, and causing division through words spoken behind people’s backs.”
Instead, he encouraged them to bring “the message of love and build unity within the Diocese.”
Established in 1957, the Diocese of Nha Trang serves Catholics in Vietnam’s south-central coastal region. The annual pilgrimage is among the diocese’s principal celebrations, bringing together clergy, religious, and lay faithful in prayer, thanksgiving, and renewal of their missionary commitment.
