Right here stands Holy Martyrs of Vietnam Church a beacon of faith and community. Founded in 1979 this church holds a special place. It was the first Vietnamese parish established in the U.S.
In April 1975 Saigon fell. This event triggered waves of Vietnamese refugees seeking new homes. Many found their way to Northern Virginia. They joined a small number of Vietnamese already here. Together they established a congregation within the Diocese of Arlington.
Bishop Thomas J Welsh established the Blessed Vietnamese Martyrs Church on August 19 1979. Father Nhat Duy Tran became the first pastor. His mission was to unite Vietnamese Catholics from all regions and backgrounds.
Six months after Pope John Paul II canonized 117 Vietnamese martyrs Bishop John R Keating approved a name change. On January 24 1989 the church became Holy Martyrs of Vietnam Church. This change was requested by Father Trong Binh Tran a former pastor.
Since August 2000 the Vietnamese Dominican Order from Calgary Canada has ministered to the parish. At the parish’s 40th anniversary Mass in September 2019 Bishop Michael F Burbidge installed Dominican Father An Quoc Dang as the ninth pastor.
Many Vietnamese Catholics once traveled long distances to attend Mass in their native language. They came from Ashburn Sterling Herndon Chantilly and other areas. Some drove for as long as 90 minutes to reach Holy Martyrs of Vietnam Church.
In 2006 Vietnamese Mass began at St Thomas à Becket Church in Reston. The congregation was named Our Lady of La Vang. By 2011 about 100 families had outgrown the church. They moved to St Veronica Church in Chantilly. Bishop Burbidge established the Mission Church of Our Lady of La Vang within Holy Martyrs of Vietnam Church on September 3 2017. In December 2022 the diocese gifted a 33-acre plot in Herndon to the mission.
Visitors should see the shrine of Our Lady of La Vang outside the church. It commemorates the Blessed Virgin’s appearance to Vietnamese Catholics. They were hiding from persecution in 1798. Parishioners gather at the shrine to pray. They seek the Blessed Mother’s intercession. Stone plaques are engraved in memory of deceased loved ones.
Inside Holy Martyrs of Vietnam Church admire the wall mural. It depicts the Holy Martyrs of Vietnam behind the altar. Vietnamese Catholics have special devotions to Our Lady of La Vang and the Vietnamese martyrs.
Holy Martyrs of Vietnam Church hosts Vietnamese language classes. These classes are for children of parishioners non-parishioners and even non-Catholic Vietnamese families. The parish also organizes special Vietnamese traditions. Tet or Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn Moon festivals promote Vietnamese culture. The Tet celebration is a two-day event with traditional music and food. It also serves as a fundraiser for the church. People from throughout the Washington area enjoy this cultural celebration.
Holy Martyrs of Vietnam Church welcomes visitors with open arms. Many Vietnamese Catholic tourists visit from out of state and other countries. They find a warm welcome. Often friends and relatives living in the area join them.
Holy Martyrs of Vietnam Church stands as a testament to faith unity and cultural preservation. It is a vibrant community where traditions thrive and everyone is welcome.