“Hie est Locus.” These are the words Father Wibaux spoke. He arrived at this site on Tôn Đức Thắng street. He said “This is the place” in Latin. This marked the beginning of u0110u1ec1n thánh Giuse.
u0110u1ec1n thánh Giuse or Saint Joseph Seminary of Saigon is one of the first French architectural works in Ho Chi Minh City. It has stood for over 150 years. u0110u1ec1n thánh Giuse has trained over 1500 seminarians. Two famous archbishops of Vietnam studied here. They are Nguyen Van Binh and Bui Van Doc.
Bishop Dominique Lefèbvre founded the institution after the French conquest of 1859. The seminary offers an oasis of calm in this busy city. Saigon’s first seminary was established around 1850. Monsignor Dominique Lefèbvre of the Christian Brothers founded it. It was located next to the Thị Nghè creek at Phú Mỹ.
In 1863, Bishop Lefèbvre laid the foundation stone. From 1863 to 1866, Father Wibaux oversaw the construction. Resources were limited so construction took several years. The seminary building was completed in 1866. It measured 45m long and 21m wide. A wide verandah surrounded all four sides. Father Wibaux dedicated much of his fortune to this work. Bishop Miche inaugurated it in 1866.
The chapel is one of the most impressive buildings of u0110u1ec1n thánh Giuse. It is 30 m long and 10 m wide. It was designed in the French Gothic architectural style. The facade is cream colored. It looks elegant and eye-catching. The lancet entrance and spires are typical of Gothic architecture. Circular and leaf decorations adorn the main entrance.
Inside the chapel, the vaulted ceiling is splendid. Lancet arches and pillars add to the design. Colorful glass windows are brilliant elements. A wooden Jesus cross is at the back. Fourteen paintings depict Jesus’s arrest and death. They hang on pillars.
In 1867, Father Wibaux began work on a dedicated chapel. It was located behind the Seminary. The Seminary Chapel was inaugurated on April 19, 1871. Bishop Miche led the ceremony.
When Father Wibaux died in 1877, he was interred behind the Seminary Chapel. A mausoleum was raised around his tomb in 1913. His tomb reminds us of his dedication to this place.
The main gate has three entrances. Four stone pillars hold lights. A red tiled roof with crosses tops them. Inside, a carved stone garden sits to the right. Behind it, Jesus and Mother Mary are worshiped. Statues and a bust of Nguyen Truong To are placed around the yard. He designed u0110u1ec1n thánh Giuse and proposed national development plans.
The two-story building houses the Catholic Cultural Center. It also holds the Traditional House and Library. The Traditional House displays about 2,000 antiques. You can see ancient books and Martyrs’ relics.
Lecture halls and a guest hall are on the right. The buildings are painted cream and red. Shutters are made of wood in Vietnamese style. Arched windows mark the entrances.
The seminary was evacuated during the Allied bombing campaign of 1943-1944. It reopened in 1987 without the Petit Seminaire. The original 1866 building still stands. It houses the main offices, library, and Heritage Centre. The Heritage Centre displays religious artifacts. It also has art from Father Dominique Trần Thái Hiệp’s collection.
u0110u1ec1n thánh Giuse stands as a testament to faith and history. Its walls echo with stories of dedication and learning. Take a moment to appreciate its beauty. Remember the people who shaped this special place.