“Notre-Dame bless the peace to Vietnam.” Bishop Joseph Pham Van Thien once spoke these words. Today we stand before Nh\u00e0 th\u1edd Gi\u00e1o h\u1ecd H\u1ed9i Am. This church is a place of worship in Ho Chi Minh City.
Let me share its story though information is limited. Many religious structures dot this vibrant city. Each one holds its own unique history.
The French colonists significantly influenced the establishment of Catholicism here. They established religious communities and services. Saigon Church was the initial name for one prominent cathedral. It later became known as Notre-Dame Cathedral.
French colonists built the Notre-Dame Cathedral between 1863 and 1880. The materials came from France. Bricks from Toulouse built the outside walls. Remarkably these bricks still have their bright red color.
In 1895 two bell towers were added. They reached a height of 57.6 meters. Each tower holds six bronze bells. These bells weigh a total of 28.85 metric tonnes. Crosses sit atop each tower. The crosses add another 3.5 meters to the height. The total height to the top of the Cross is 60.5 m.
Originally the church was called State Cathedral. This was because construction funds came from the state. In 1959 a statue of Our Lady of Peace was installed. Bishop Pham Van Thien presented the title Regina Pacis. From that point the church was called Notre-Dame Cathedral.
In 1962 Pope John XXIII gave Saigon Chief Cathedral the status of a basilica. From this time it was called Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica.
One notable event occurred in October 2005. The statue of Our Lady was reported to have shed tears. Thousands flocked to see this. Authorities had to stop traffic. The Catholic Church could not confirm the tears. Still people came to witness the event.
Inside Notre-Dame Cathedral tiles bear the words Guichard Carvin Marseille St Andr\u00e9 France. This states where the tiles were produced. Some tiles say Wang-Tai Saigon. Many tiles made in Saigon replaced war-damaged ones.
Fifty-six glass squares came from Lorin firm of Chartres. Chartres is famous for its stained-glass windows. The cathedral foundation can bear ten times its weight.
While we don’t have specific details about Nh\u00e0 th\u1edd Gi\u00e1o h\u1ecd H\u1ed9i Am, knowing this related and nearby context enriches our understanding of the religious landscape here. It highlights the historical influence of French colonist and the enduring faith of the Vietnamese people.
Remember the words of Bishop Joseph Pham Van Thien. “Notre-Dame bless the peace to Vietnam.” Let those words resonate as we continue our tour.