How about we step into a world where faith meets cultural identity? Here we are at Vietnamese Martyrs Church. It is not just a church but a vibrant hub for Seattle’s Vietnamese Catholic community.
Vietnamese Martyrs Church started in 1976. About 50 Vietnamese refugee families formed it. In 2010, it officially became Vietnamese Martyrs Parish. Father Dao became its pastor. The parish grew rapidly.
By 2014, the Seattle space was too small. The parish moved to Tukwila. They planned to build a new church and classrooms. The old parish was slated for demolition for a new apartment development.
After years of dreaming and fundraising, the new Vietnamese Martyrs Church was dedicated. The dedication took place in November 2014. Parishioners celebrated this milestone. Father Thanh X. Dao received the keys from Archbishop Paul D. Etienne. This was for the ceremonial opening.
Tuyen Pham escaped Vietnam in 1989. She spent 10 days at sea. Then she lived in a refugee camp. Finally, she came to the United States. Pham was excited about the new church. She felt blessed to have a place to worship.
Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Chi Linh of Hue Vietnam also attended. Benedictine Abbot Marion Q. Nguyen joined them. More than a dozen priests concelebrated the dedication Mass. The church holds 1200 seats. Another 1000 seats were in an overflow area. Parishioners watched the Mass on video screens.
Archbishop Etienne congratulated the congregation. He thanked them for their faith and dedication. Father Dao has been pastor since 2010. He expressed joy and gratitude.
Later that day, Archbishop Linh dedicated shrines. These shrines honored Our Lady of La Vang. They also honored the Vietnamese Martyrs. John Tien Luu said it was a dream realized. He had escaped Vietnam in 1980. He spent time in a refugee camp in the Philippines.
Luu credited prayer and the Holy Spirit. He said they guided Father Dao and the parish council. They had never built a church before. Father Dao thanked everyone who supported the parish. The community raised two-thirds of the money.
Father Dao said building a new church was expensive. But people wanted to pay the price. The rest of the money came from a loan. The parish hopes to pay it off quickly. Luu emphasized the community’s sacrifice and love for the church.
Vietnamese Martyrs Church is hard to miss. It has twin 110-foot bell towers. It also has a central dome. The church blends Western and Vietnamese design. The towers recall Notre-Dame Cathedral of Saigon. The dome recalls St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Statues of six Vietnamese Martyrs stand at the base of the bell towers. Four angels blowing trumpets sit above the dome. Three exterior walls display relief sculptures. One depicts the Vietnamese Martyrs. Others depict journeys to freedom and hope. Statues of St. Peter and St. Paul flank the entry stairs. Statues of Pope St. John Paul II and Pope St. John XXIII stand near the doors.
Inside, the church is rich in symbolism. Father Dao integrated Vietnamese culture into the church’s theology. The flooring features 12 motifs. These motifs represent the Apostles and tribes of Israel. They also symbolize the church community. Each motif includes a palm inside a circle within a square.
The square represents earth. The circle represents heaven. Palms symbolize martyrdom and victory over sin. The idea is to renounce sin through sacrifice. This leads to victory over sin.
The altar features a sculpted image of the Last Supper. The crucifix resembles an evergreen tree trunk. This symbolizes the Northwest. The tabernacle is surrounded by the four evangelists. Stained-glass windows made in Vietnam line the nave. Each window features a saint or blessed person important to the parish. The pew ends are etched with the parish logo. It shows a cross and crown over Vietnam. Palm branches accent either side.
The first Vietnamese Catholics arrived in Seattle in 1975. The archdiocese created the Vietnamese Catholic Community. Priests celebrated Mass in Vietnamese across Western Washington. The first Vietnamese Martyrs church was dedicated in 1988. In 2010, the community became a personal parish. The parish chose the Tukwila site for its new church. Archbishop Sartain blessed the temporary church in 2014. A new faith and cultural education center was blessed in 2021. Construction of the new church began in 2022.
Today, Vietnamese Martyrs Parish has about 2500 households. They celebrate six Masses each weekend. Children attend catechism and Vietnamese language classes every Saturday.
The church was dedicated on the Feast of the Vietnamese Martyrs. These 117 individuals were canonized in 1988. Relics of four martyrs were sealed in the altar. Archbishop Etienne said the martyrs symbolize faith and unity. He added that their stories inspire Catholics to live their faith boldly.
Remember the beauty of Vietnamese Martyrs Church. Let it inspire faith in each of you.