Mr. Bùi Đức Trí broke into a smile saying: “I never heard a bishop speak so convincedly for new vitality in our local church.” A neighbor and avid supporter of the Center for Ignatian Spirituality/Vietnam(CIS/VN) , he continued, “He believes we can only be Church if we ‘go forward’ in missionary thrust to proclaim the Gospel in word and deed. By speaking the truth and living justly in society. Not to remain in self-preservation and fear.”
Mr. Trí was referring to the Archbishop of Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City, Joseph Nguyen Nang, who accepted an invitation to visit CIS/VN on October 15, 2025. He also holds the Presidency of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Vietnam (CBCV). Two years ago, Archbishop Nang heard from another bishop about the professional graduate programs at CIS/VN. He decided to send two of his priests to attend the two-week program Pastoral Leadership in a Synodal Church. The priests reported to him about the engaging content and innovative style of the program. And how much they learned at “the Jesuit center”. Hence, he became interested in the mission and vision of CIS/VN.
Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Nang
At the heart of his ‘go forward’ missionary thrust, Archbishop Nang speaks of the need for a Church community founded on a “circle of fraternity” shared by all the People of God, not only clergy and Religious. He noted that Vietnam lags behind other Asian Churches in welcoming lay persons to take their rightful place in the “circle of fraternity”. He is convinced that both “go forward” and the “circle of fraternity” depend on a vibrant interior life among Catholics, one that radiates the love of God. One way to nurture such an interior life is following the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius.
Archbishop Nang pointed to a “new missionary frontier” – the digital world – within which young Vietnamese seek purpose and meaning. With voice filled with emotions he concluded “Be present in the digital environment as missionally disciples sowing goodness, discerning truth and dispelling darkness in today’s world.”
Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Nang with CIS/VN staffs
After his address to sixty-five members of the CIS/VN staff, present participants in two on-going programs and guest, Archbishop Nang presided at Mass and then enjoyed a festive lunch with us. He was the third bishop to speak with us annually and we were so very pleased to enjoy his presence among us.