Vietnam ethnic priest’s ordination to help evangelization

PARISHIONERS hope that the ordination of the first ethnic Chau Ma Redemptorist priest will help evangelization efforts among the new priest’s people.

Father Paul K’Nhoang and four other Redemptorists were ordained yesterday by Bishop Michael Hoang Duc Oanh of Kontum at the Redemptorist-run Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Ho Chi Minh City.

“We are proud to have the first priest who is from our people,” said Peter K’Hoan, an ethnic Chau Ma among several that attended the ordination. “Thank God, who offers us this special gift.”

Father Vincent Pham Trung Thanh, a Redemptorist provincial superior, said the Church had begun working with ethnic groups more than 60 years ago, and that plans have been established to train ethnic missionaries to evangelize their fellow villagers more effectively than other priests.

“Our top priority is to preach the Gospel to the poor, abandoned and underprivileged, especially ethnic minority groups,” he said.

Father K’Nhoang will be assigned to work with Chau Ma villagers in Gai Lai province in the Central Highlands.

Ethnic Chau Ma, one of 54 ethnic minorities, comprises 41,405 members living mainly in the provinces of Binh Phuoc, Dak Nong, Dong Nai and Lam Dong, according to government data from 2009.

Report from ucanews.com