“What does ‘Thuan Phat’ even mean?” I hear you ask. Well the name of this church Nhờ thờ Thuan Phat is quite special. It is a combination of “Thuan” which is derived from the area Tan Thuan and “Phat” which refers to the original parishioners from Phat Diem.
Nhờ thờ Thuan Phat has a unique story. Its origins trace back to 1954. Father Anton Do Minh Do and a group of Catholics from Phat Diem moved south. They first settled in Long An. But the land was not suitable for farming. In 1959 they moved to Can Tho. A parish named Kim Phung was established there.
In 1961 Father Anton bought land in Saigon. It was in Tan Thuan Tay commune Nha Be district. The area spanned 51450 square meters. It had access to both road and waterway. This marked the beginning of the Nhờ thờ Thuan Phat we see today.
Father Anton brought the Kim Phung parishioners from Can Tho. They formed the Thuan Phat community. They integrated with local people including some from the Xom Chieu parish. Initially about 500 people of Phat Diem origin settled here. They lived along Tran Xuan Soan Street. It stretched from Tan Thuan Bridge to Rach Ong Bridge.
In 1964 many fire victims from Vinh Hoi were resettled in Tan Quy Dong commune. This increased the number of parishioners. Later two new parishes were founded. They were Mau Tam and An Phu. Nhờ thờ Thuan Phat then focused on certain areas. These included hamlets of Tan Thuan Dong and Tan Thuan Tay communes. Also a part of Tan Quy Tay commune.
The first church was built with wood and corrugated iron. The materials came from the Kim Phung church. They were transported by river from Can Tho. From 1962 groups started to form. Three leaders were chosen. They managed the community with the parish priest.
Back then parishioners mainly wove mats and raised livestock. Some were civil servants or worked independently. Life was hard at first. They had to clear land build houses and find ways to earn a living in the city. Despite the challenges the priests established organizations. They built schools. This took care of the spiritual life and education of the parishioners.
A new church construction began in 1964. It marked the church’s development. In 1966 Archbishop Paul Nguyen Van Binh inaugurated it. Before 1975 the Toma Thien school played an important role. It provided religious and cultural education. It also conducted charity work. This included giving bread milk medicine and clothes. These actions helped the church connect with the local community.
During the Jubilee Year celebrating the parish’s 50th anniversary a benefactor offered to fund a new church. Construction began in early 2012. Cardinal John Baptist Pham Minh Man presided over the groundbreaking ceremony. The current church was inaugurated on October 5 2013. Bishop Peter Nguyen Van Kham officiated.
Nhờ thờ Thuan Phat has been served by several priests over time. Father Anton Do Minh Do served from 1961 to 2001. Father Vincent Pham Van Tinh assisted in 2000-2001. Father John Le Quang Viet was the head from 2001 to 2003. Father Peter Pham Van Long led from 2003 to 2010. Father Joachim Le Hau Han served from 2010 to 2015. Father Martino Tran Quang Vinh was the head from June 2015 to 2018. Father Joseph Doan Van Tuyen was the head from 2018 to 2020. Since August 21 2020 Father Joseph Pham Van Thoi has been the parish priest.
Visiting Nhờ thờ Thuan Phat reveals a lively parish community. Despite its quiet location near the Kinh Te canal it is very active. The parishioners here are united and growing. They echo the Word of God. They create a rich religious and missionary life.