Horizons of Hope in Vietnam

April 24
Quiet Work in the Mission of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood in Vietnam Nourishes Spiritual Life
Traveling to a place on the far side of the globe can truly be daunting.
It takes more than 24 hours of flying to reach Vietnam, and once you arrive, your senses must operate at full capacity to take everything in—the sights, sounds, scents, and an entirely new rhythm of life. I felt a great deal of anticipation as I arrived to visit the mission of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood in Vietnam during an eight-day trip in November 2024. At times I felt overwhelmed, but I will be forever grateful for having been there.

I am also deeply grateful to have traveled with my friend and former teacher, Fr. Denny Kinderman, C.PP.S., who has consistently said “yes” to the promptings of the Holy Spirit throughout his priestly life. I am thankful as well for the warm hospitality we received from the missionaries here, who are carrying out a remarkable mission inspired by the spirituality of the Precious Blood. I am especially grateful for the daily assistance of Sr. Hang Pham, a member of the Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ, who faithfully served as our interpreter and guide throughout our journey.
I came to Vietnam as a representative of the Mission Development Office of the Congregation, whose role is to promote the spirituality and apostolic works of the community among those who support us through prayer and financial assistance.
The Missionaries of the Precious Blood have been present in Vietnam for nearly 30 years. After a period of discernment and exploration, they officially established their mission here in 2007. At present, there are nine missionaries—eight priests and one brother—along with men in formation, all of whom are Vietnamese.
We visited their mission sites in Saigon, where the missionaries provide pastoral support in parishes and in rural areas of Vietnam. It is always encouraging to witness courageous and compassionate Christians striving to build the Kingdom of God on earth—and this is especially admirable in Vietnam, where missionaries must exercise great caution so as not to cross boundaries set by the government. As a relatively new religious congregation in this country, they do not yet benefit from longstanding traditions or institutional support. They are building their identity and place largely on their own.
At the Song Trau Charity House, located about two hours from Saigon, the missionaries provide housing for people in difficult circumstances who previously lived on the streets. Currently, the house accommodates 32 adult men, most of whom are elderly, with plans to expand capacity to 200 residents. These men now live in a modern, clean facility built with the support of benefactors who wished to take part in the mission in Vietnam—many of whom were introduced to the work by the missionaries themselves and invited to become involved.
The Tan Thanh Community, established in 2017 near the Cambodian border, includes a retreat center and guest rooms set in a peaceful and welcoming environment. This facility, too, was made possible through the generosity of friends and supporters of the Congregation.
The missionaries are also reaching out to the Xtieng (also spelled Steing) ethnic minority, who face many disadvantages. They operate a mobile soup kitchen serving hundreds of families and are building simple metal-roofed shelters to provide protection from the elements. Their goal is always to serve more people, within the limits of time and available resources.
In addition, the missionaries serve in the Central Highlands, in Dak Nong Province. The center there includes a chapel, auxiliary buildings, and more than six acres of farmland. They cultivate over 900 pepper plants, along with taro, passion fruit, bananas, and other commercial crops. Seminarians assist with agricultural production during the summer months, helping generate income to support the mission. The missionaries also care for local ethnic communities, providing food and shelter.
Throughout our journey, we witnessed our missionaries working tirelessly—but never alone. They are not only building physical structures; they are also building support among those they serve and among those who believe in the mission—people who trust that the Precious Blood of Jesus is a source of healing and strength for the world today.
Author: Mission Coordinator Mark Giesige
Translated by: Anthony

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