The Archdiocese of Hue marked a historic milestone on April 25 with the blessing and inauguration of its newly completed Archbishop’s House and Pastoral Center, coinciding with the 2nd Annual Conference of the Vietnamese Bishops’ Council (VBC) held in the city after nearly two decades.
The day’s events began at 7 a.m. with a blessing ceremony led by Archbishop Emeritus Francis Xavier Le Van Hong. Cardinal Peter Nguyen Van Nhon, bishops, priests, and members of the faithful attended the celebration. Participants paused to offer prayers before a portrait of Pope Francis.
After the proclamation of the Word of God and the prayer of blessing, Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Chi Linh sprinkled holy water and incensed the statue of Our Lady of La Vang. Coadjutor Archbishop Joseph Dang Duc Ngan, Vicar General Dominic Phan Hung, and Monsignor Anton Duong Quynh also blessed the Archbishop’s House, the Pastoral Center, and Phu Cam Cathedral. The ceremony concluded with a floral offering and a ribbon-cutting.
A Holy Year pilgrimage to Phu Cam Cathedral followed, led by Coadjutor Archbishop Joseph Dang Duc Ngan. During the procession, participants reflected on the life and pontificate of Pope Francis, recalling his commitment to mercy, peace, hope, and the poor.
At 8 a.m., Archbishop Joseph presided over a Thanksgiving Mass to mark the blessing and inauguration. Before the liturgy, he introduced Cardinal Peter, Archbishop Marek Zalewski, Representative of the Holy See in Vietnam, bishops of the Vietnamese Bishops’ Conference, and other guests. He also announced that several Vietnamese bishops had traveled to Rome for Pope Francis’ Funeral Mass.
The Mass was concelebrated by priests from the Paris Foreign Mission Society, the Archdiocese of Hue, dioceses of Thanh Hoa and Da Nang, and other dioceses across Vietnam and abroad. Religious men and women, seminarians, and lay faithful joined the celebration.
In his homily, Archbishop Joseph spoke about the significance of the new facilities, emphasizing that the Archbishop’s House and Pastoral Center would fulfill their purpose only if they fostered spiritual service, unity, and outreach to the poor and the suffering. He described the inauguration as a new beginning for the Archdiocese’s pastoral mission.
After the Eucharistic celebration, Archbishop Marek Zalewski addressed the community, highlighting the humble life and legacy of Pope Francis as a model for the faithful.
Father General Vicar Dominic Phan Hung, speaking on behalf of the Archdiocese, expressed gratitude to the Vietnamese Bishops’ Conference, clergy, guests, and benefactors who supported the construction project.
Archbishop Joseph concluded the event by encouraging prayers for Pope Francis and imparted a plenary indulgence to those present.
The inauguration marked the fulfillment of a long-held aspiration for the Archdiocese of Hue. After five years of construction, the Archbishop’s House and Pastoral Center now stand as symbols of unity, service, and hope. A statue of Our Lady of La Vang at the center of the campus honors the Archdiocese’s patroness and the call to build a welcoming and loving Church.
