Vinh, Apostolic Vicariate of

VINH, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF. - It is located in the south-eastern region of Annam (Vietnam), which faces the Gulf of Tonkin.

It was erected on 27 March 1846, under the name of Southern Tonkin, by separation from that of Western Tonkin, and entrusted to the Paris Foreign Missions Society. The present name of V. dates from 3 Dec. 1924. Since 1947 the mission has been almost completely under the control of the Vietminh. Communications with the rest of the country are very difficult, except with the neighbouring vicariate of Thanh-Hoa, which is likewise under the control of the Vietminh.

The apostolic vicariate of V., made up of the provinces of Nghe-An and Ha-Tinh and of the northern part of the province of Quang-Binh, numbers 167,469 faithful out of 1,800,000 inhabitants. In the present situation one must note the unfailing fidelity of the Christians toward the Church, even at the cost of grave sacrifices. The history of the evangelization of this vicariate merges with that of all the missions of Tonkin, whose origins are closely linked to the name of Fr. Alexandre de Rhodes (v.). There are 180 native priests and 26 foreign ones; the latter have all been confined by the Vietminh; there are moreover 2 native brothers, 165 native sisters, 16 primary and 430 secondary stations; 160 churches and 386 chapels. Although by order of the Vietminh government the city of V. has been almost completely razed to the ground, the cathedral, the bishop's residence, the procurature and the convents have so far been spared. On 24 June 1951 the apostolic vicariate of V. was transferred from the Paris Foreign Missions Society to the Vietnamese secular clergy.

Edoardo Pecoraro