Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnamese: Tổng giáo phận Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Latin: Archidioecesis Hochiminhopolitana) is a Catholic ecclesiastical territory in the south of Vietnam. By far the largest diocese in the country by population and second in the number of Catholics, yet like most big cities, it covers a relatively small area of 2,390 km2 (920 sq mi).

The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Vương cung thánh đường Chính tòa Đức Mẹ Vô nhiễm Nguyên tội) in Ho Chi Minh City has been assigned as the cathedral of the archdiocese. There are also popular and historic churches such as Saint Francis Xavier Church, Saint Jeanne d'Arc Church, Saint Joseph Church, Sacred Heart Church, Saint Philip Church, and Tân Định Church.

By 2004, the archdiocese had about 602,478 believers (11.0% of the population), 519 priests and 195 parishes.

The archdiocese is a "sister" diocese of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles (United States) since 2008.

The archdiocese ministers often take part in international exchanges and contacts, though with special permission of the Vietnamese authorities.

The young Catholics from the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City and Archdiocese of Hanoi formed in 2006 an organization for helping children in rural and underdeveloped areas of Vietnam. The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City regularly organizes special mass events including the Youth Day in December 2007, which was attended by more than 7 000 young people, who take part in volunteer and charitable activities, and two prayer vigils "God is rich in compassion" in March 2008 with the participation of several thousand faithful.

There is a center of social work organized by the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City, which consists of priests, laypeople, and members of civil groups. The center is occupied with three main problems: helping street children, activities to reduce HIV/AIDS level, helping its victims, and social and psychological work with prostitutes to get them off the streets.

The ecclesiastical province of Sài Gòn contains the following suffragan dioceses in south Vietnam:

Name

Since its establishment in 1844, this archdiocese has gone through various names: Vicariate Apostolic of West Tonkin (1844–1924), Vicariate Apostolic of Saigon (1924–1960), and then the Archdiocese of Saigon (from 1960). Nowadays, this archdiocese is called the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City, after the administrative name of the city, and in its communications, the Vatican uses this name.

In reality, the name Archdiocese of Saigon is still used in the documents of the Catholic Church in Vietnam. Additionally, sometimes the name used is the Archdiocese of Saigon – Ho Chi Minh City.

Cathedral

The Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Sài Gòn (Vương cung thánh đường Chính tòa Đức Mẹ Vô nhiễm Nguyên tội, or more commonly Nhà thờ Đức Bà Sài Gòn) in Ho Chi Minh City is considered to be one of the main city attractions and one of the most beautiful buildings in all of Vietnam. It was built from 1877 to 1880 by the French architect J. Bourad, has a Neo-Romanesque façade with twin towers and a statue of the Virgin Mary in the center front.

Bishops

Vicars Apostolic of Western Cochin

OrdinariesPeriod in officeStatusCoadjutor Vicar ApostolicReference
1Bishop Dominique Lefèbvre, M.E.P.March 02, 1844 – August 28, 1864RetiredBishop Jean-Claude Miche, M.E.P.March 11, 1844 – September 09, 1864
2Bishop Jean-Claude Miche, M.E.P.September 09, 1864 – December 01, 1873Died in officeBishop Isidore-François-Joseph Colombert, M.E.P.February 06, 1872 – December 01, 1872
3Bishop Isidore-François-Joseph Colombert, M.E.P.December 01, 1873 – December 31, 1894Vacant
4Bishop Jean-Marie Dépierre, M.E.P.April 12, 1895 – October 17, 1898
5Bishop Lucien-Emile Mossard, M.E.P.February 11, 1899 – February 11, 1920Bishop Victor-Charles Quinton, M.E.P.February 12, 1912 – February 11, 1920
6Bishop Victor-Charles Quinton, M.E.P.February 11, 1920 – October 04, 1924Vacant

Vicars Apostolic of Sài Gòn

OrdinariesPeriod in officeStatusReference
1Bishop Isidore-Marie-Joseph Dumortier, M.E.P.December 17, 1925 – February 16, 1940Died in office
2Bishop Jean Cassaigne, M.E.P.March 20, 1941 – September 20, 1955Retired
3Bishop Simon Hoà Nguyễn Văn HiềnSeptember 20, 1955 – November 24, 1960Transferred to Diocese of Đà Lat.

Archbishops of Ho Chi Minh City

ArchbishopsCoat of ArmsPeriod in officeStatusReference
Metropolitan Archbishop of Saigon
1Paul Nguyễn Văn BìnhNovember 24, 1960 – November 23, 1976Title change with the change of the name of the archdiocese.
Metropolitan Archbishops of Thành-Phô Hô Chí Minh
1Paul Nguyễn Văn BìnhNovember 23, 1976 – July 01, 1995Died in office
–Bishop Nicolas Huỳnh Văn Nghi1993 – March 01, 1998Apostolic Administrator
2Cardinal Jean-Baptiste Phạm Minh MẫnMarch 01, 1998 – March 22, 2014Retired
3Paul Bùi Văn ĐọcMarch 22, 2014 – March 06, 2018Died in Office
4Joseph Nguyễn NăngOctober 19, 2019 – presentCurrent Archbishop

Auxiliary Bishops

Coadjutor Archbishops

Other secular clergy who became bishops

See also

External links

  • (in English)
  • (in Vietnamese)