4630(I)_Blessing and Consecration of new Church dedicated to Don Bosco
Xuan Hiep parish in Archdiocese of Saigon
February 3, 2018
Xuan Hiep, Vietnam, 31 January 2018 - On Wednesday January 31st 2018 at 9:30, the Archbishop of Archdiocese of Saigon, Msgr. Peter Bui Van Doc, blessed and consecrated the new church dedicated to Don Bosco at Xuan Hiep parish, Saigon diocese, VietNam.
Three years ago, VietNam province decided to build a new church dedicated to Don Bosco on the occasion of the anniversary of 200 year of his birth. So, right at the façade of the new church was erected 3 meter high statue of Don Bosco which was blessed by Fr. Joseph Nguyen Van Quang, the provincial, on the last January 28. This statue was put on a big one meter high rock.
Present also at the big event were the Bishop of Thai Binh diocese, Msgr. Peter Nguyen Van De, Fr. Joseph Nguyen Van Quang SDB, the provincial of the Salesians, several provincials and superiors general of some congregations, Sister Vu Thi Kim Lien, the provincial of FMA and some FMA sisters, a number of the religious, benefactors and guests. The total number was about 3.000.
At 9:30, the Archbishop of Saigon, Msgr. Peter Bui Van Doc and the provincial, Fr. Joseph Nguyen Van Quang, performed the ribbon cutting ceremony before the door of the new church and pulled down the cloth covering the commemorative stele. Then Fr. Joseph handed the key of the new church to the Archbishop Peter, and he handed it to the Fr. FX. Nguyen Trung Thanh, the parish priest of Xuan Hiep parish. After the door was unlocked and opened by the parish priest, the Archbishop Peter led the procession into the church.
After the liturgy of the Word, the Archbishop of Saigon diocese, Mrgs. Peter Bui Van Doc, consecrated the new church and the altar.
By the end of the solemn mass, Fr. Joseph Nguyen Van Quang, the provincial, gave thanks to the Archbishop Peter, Bishop Peter, benefactors and all those present at this event.