Augustinian friars, sisters, and lay collaborators from across the Asia-Pacific gathered in Vietnam from Oct. 5 to 11 for a weeklong congress focused on digital evangelization, missionary identity, and what organizers described as “interior tourism.”
The Asia-Pacific Augustinian Conference (APAC) Mission Congress 2026 brought together members of the Augustinian family to deepen fraternal bonds and explore a common path for proclaiming the Gospel in an increasingly digital world.
The congress opened at the Pastoral Center of the Archdiocese of Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City.
In his homily during the opening Eucharistic celebration, Fr. Allan Malana Jacinto, OAR, a member of the APAC Commission on Common Mission, reflected on the parable of the Good Samaritan and urged delegates to cultivate the Samaritan’s capacity to stop and recognize those in need.
“Being near does not always mean being present in compassion,” Fr. Jacinto warned, cautioning against the “comforts of proximity” — the misconception that physical closeness to religious life or sacred spaces automatically yields attentiveness to others.
He encouraged participants to embrace their shared mission as a true expression of vita communis, or community life.
Following the opening Mass, Fr. Andrew P. Batayola, OSA, president of APAC, explained the choice of Vietnam as the venue for the gathering.
Addressing the question “Why Vietnam?”, Fr. Batayola highlighted APAC’s desire to establish a common mission in a country where introducing the Augustinian presence and charism remains both a frontier and a significant challenge.
Beyond cultural and ecclesial visits, Fr. Batayola urged delegates to practice “interior tourism” — a deliberate spiritual journey into the depths of their own hearts to renew their missionary identity.
Participants later traveled 85 kilometers from Saigon to the Our Lady of Nui Cui Pilgrimage Center, overlooking the Dong Nai River.
Presiding over Mass at the shrine, Most Rev. Joseph Đinh Đức Đạo, bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Xuân Lộc, delivered a keynote on the theme “Online World and Its Warrant for Evangelization Today.”
Drawing from the Gospel story of Martha and Mary, Bishop Joseph said that even in an age dominated by artificial intelligence and rapidly evolving technologies, digital tools remain secondary to the interior disposition of the evangelizer.
“If you do not have Christ in your heart, you cannot preach and share Him,” Bishop Joseph stressed.
He reminded consecrated men and women that Christ must never be treated as a private possession, but as a living truth to be joyfully proclaimed.
Fr. Augustine Huyn Tran, OAD, prior of the Discalced Augustinian Saigon Community, outlined his order’s historical presence in Vietnam, dating back to 1701 and its re-establishment in 2008.
Addressing where young people live today, Fr. Augustine presented several pastoral initiatives pioneered by the Discalced Augustinians in Vietnam.
These included Small Lamp Media, which produces digital content focused on catechesis, interiority and reflection; “Providence Met You,” which addresses youth anxieties and daily experiences through accessible digital formats; and Shelter for the Sick and “Journey of Hope,” a hybrid ministry linking physical care for the sick with digital storytelling that offers hope and spiritual solidarity.
Fr. Augustine emphasized three principles for digital ministry: remaining rooted in spiritual heritage while embracing new technology, prioritizing humble service over viral metrics, and converting online interactions into real-world communities of prayer and charity.
Throughout the seven-day congress, delegates participated in small-group spiritual conversations, sharing best practices and discussing the challenges of digital evangelization within their local pastoral contexts.
As the assembly concluded, the Augustinian family in the Asia-Pacific region reaffirmed that while communication platforms will continue to evolve, the core mission remains unchanged: to encounter people where they are, stop for those in need, and let the light of Christ shine across every frontier, both real and virtual.
