ORANGE - The Archbishop from Hanoi and the Bishop from Orange will celebrate Mass together at the Vietnamese Catholic Center in Santa Ana on Friday, highlighting a two-week visit by the archbishop intended to reach out to Orange County's Vietnamese community.

Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet is here to endorse the sister relationship between the Diocese of Orange and the Diocese of Hanoi, a relationship that began almost two months ago when youth from Orange County flew to Hanoi for a pilgrimage on their way to World Youth Day.

Kiet, who arrived Aug. 19, will visit different parishes and meet with religious members in Orange County.

"Orange County has a large Vietnamese population, and building this good personal relationship between the dioceses will help us reach that community," said Bishop Tod Brown of the Diocese of Orange.

As a part of the developing relationship, the local diocese will sponsor four seminarians from Hanoi who will come later this year to live and study to become priests in Orange County and California.

"My visit gives a face to the relationship between the diocese," Kiet said through his interpreter. "I'm here to nourish the appeal of this relationship and learn more about what our seminarians will experience."

This visit is not the first time the archbishop has been to the United States. Starting today through Wednesday, Kiet will stay with his brother who lives in San Jose. After the Mass on Friday, the archbishop will spend more time with the Vietnamese community during a lunch and dinner meeting with Vietnamese priests and youth.

"A big part of what the seminarians will learn is how to balance a secular life with a rich faith," the archbishop said. "They will bring something special to the United States, and bring back (something) valuable to Hanoi."

The archbishop will return home to Vietnam on Sept. 1.

(Source: Erin Welch / The Orange County Register, Monday, August 25, 2008)