THE VISIT OF ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH KURTZ, THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS, TO

THE CATHOLIC INSTITUTE OF VIET NAM

On Wednesday, January 25th, 2017, The Most Reverend Joseph Kurtz, Archbishop of Louisville, TN and the former President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), visited the Catholic Institute of Viet Nam. Accompanying him were Monsignor Joseph Tri Minh Trinh, the President of the Federation of Vietnamese Catholics in the United States of America, Reverend Anthony Chinh Dinh Ngo, Deputy President of the Federation of Vietnamese Catholics in the United States and two lay Catholics, Joseph Cong Nguyen and Theresa Van Thanh Luong.

Welcoming Archbishop Kurtz was Bishop Joseph Dinh Duc Dao, the Rector of the Catholic Institute of Vietnam (CIVN). Together with Bishop Joseph Dinh Duc Dao were Faculty and Staff members of the CIVN: Father Louis Nguyen Anh Tuan, Father Vincent Nguyen Cao Dung, Father Joseph Ta Huy Hoang, Sister Mary Nguyen Thi Tuong Oanh, Father Quach Duy Hop, Sister Mary Trinh Thi Hong Sang, and Sister Mary Hoang Thi Minh Tri.

Bishop Rector presented a brief overview of the Catholic Institute of Vietnam including its founding, administration, faculty, programs, requirements of admission, and students of the Academic year 2016-2017. In addition, the Rector pointed out challenges that the CIVN is facing at this time of its beginning. He mentioned in particular the facility and financial needs. The CIVN is now located on the fifth floor of the office building of the Vietnamese Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Rector also requested support for the English Program and the Online Library Project of the CIVN.

Archbishop Kurtz and other members of the Commission asked many questions related to the goals of the CIVN, potential students, the support needed for the English Program as well as the Library Project. In the answer, Bishop Joseph Dao clarified that the CIVN is not confided only to the formation of future priests, but it aims at the theological formation of all vocations in the Church, including lay people. Archbishop Kurtz and Monsignor Trinh promised to present the needs of the CIVN to the USCCB as well as the Federation of Vietnamese Catholics in the United States.

Archbishop Kurtz offered his best wishes for Lunar New Year to the CIVN. After the meeting, all present shared a meal with the Holy See Delegation of Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli; Archbishop Paul Bui Van Doc, and Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Do Manh Hung.

Sister Hong Sang