Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer – Province of Vietnam

Has anyone ever heard of a Vice-Province of Extra Patriam? The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer – Province of Vietnam has a fascinating, if complicated, history tied to this unusual term. We’re standing before a testament to their resilience, a branch of the Redemptorists, a global order founded in 1732 by St. Alphonsus de Liguori. Their mission? “To preach the Good News to the poor and the most abandoned.” The Redemptorists arrived in Vietnam in 1925, Canadian missionaries answering a call to spread their message and cultivate local vocations. They established a Vietnamese Province, flourishing until the fall of Saigon in 1975. Then, upheaval. Some Vietnamese Redemptorists, fleeing the communist regime, joined the diaspora. They sought refuge in the United States, establishing a new Vietnamese Vice-Province to serve the spiritual needs of their fellow immigrants. This became the Redemptorist Vice-Province of Extra Patriam, formally established in 1984, starting in California. This “Extra Patriam” signifies a community outside its traditional homeland, a church in exile. The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer – Province of Vietnam here represents a continuation of that legacy, a link to both the original Vietnamese province and the dispersed community. By 1993, with the approval of Bishop Joseph Fiorenza, they established a formation house within the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Their seminarians study at St. Thomas University and St. Mary’s Seminary, contributing to the local and global church. The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer – Province of Vietnam faced another difficult period in 2010. Tensions rose within Vietnam, with the Redemptorists and their followers facing harassment and violence. The Superior General of the Congregation called for prayers and solidarity, highlighting the anxieties felt worldwide. In Ho Chi Minh City, thousands attended a prayer vigil at the Redemptorist monastery, praying for peace and justice for their nation and church. Their journey reflects both the challenges and triumphs of faith under pressure, a story of perseverance, community, and dedication to their mission. The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer – Province of Vietnam stands as a symbol of hope and a reminder of the enduring power of belief.