In 1960 a seed of faith was planted that would grow into the Nghĩa trang Giáo xứ Thiên Phước. This cemetery is more than just a burial ground. It is a testament to the enduring spirit of a community.
The journey began when Father Gioan Moriso of the Paris Foreign Missions Society arrived. He preached in Bon K’Nur, Bon Phimur, and Bích Sơn. At that time only 60 families followed the faith. War disrupted the region and people scattered.
After 1975, the people of Khiêm Bình returned. They gathered to pray in homes because there was no church. They met at Ông K’Kril’s house and Ông Y’Krơng’s house. They also met at Ông K’Sát’s house. About 200 people gathered.
In 1990, thầy Đaminh Trần Văn Tân and Soeur Têrêxa Nguyễn Thị Hai worked to spread the faith. Many people returned to the church because of them.
In 2005, Giáo xứ Gia Nghĩa was re-established. Father Giuse Nguyễn Văn Khánh became pastor. Quảng Sơn became a religious center. Each year, the pastor celebrated Mass and administered sacraments. These services were held on Ông Y’Krơng’s land in thôn 3A.
From 2007, Father Giuse Vũ Ngọc Nguyên assisted at Giáo xứ Gia Nghĩa. He regularly celebrated Mass and administered sacraments in Quảng Sơn once a month.
In 2008, Giáo họ Thiên Phước was formed. Parishioners donated land in thôn 2. They built a bamboo house for worship. The number of parishioners grew to 1800.
In 2011, Giáo xứ Quảng Phúc was established. Giáo họ Thiên Phước became part of Giáo xứ Quảng Phúc. In 2012, Bishop Antôn Nguyễn Văn Huynh was appointed. He oversaw three religious communities including Thiên Phước. From then on, Giáo họ Thiên Phước had daily Mass.
In 2014, Father Phêrô Nguyễn Minh Hiển was assigned to Thiên Phước. He cared for the community and built a religious education center.
Thiên Phước was elevated to parish status on January 13, 2016. Father Phêrô Nguyễn Minh Hiển became the first pastor. Today, the Nghĩa trang Giáo xứ Thiên Phước is part of a thriving parish. It includes 5908 people in its religious community. This number includes two separate religious communities. These are Phước Lâm and Kim Ngọc. It also includes two mission locations. These are Quảng Hòa and the H’Mông people in Sình Mon.
The Nghĩa trang Giáo xứ Thiên Phước stands as a symbol. It represents faith, perseverance, and community. It is a place of rest and remembrance. It is a place where the stories of the faithful are forever etched in the land.