On 16/4, Father Giuse Vo Van Hoai, parish priest of Tac Say and director of Tac Say Pilgrimage Center, announced that the mass will be presided over by Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization (Vatican), by mandate of the Holy See. This marks the first time a beatification ceremony has been held in Vietnam.

Linh muc Truong Buu Diep. Photo: Tac Say Church archives

Preparations for the mass began in late 2024, after the Holy See issued a decree recognizing Father Truong Buu Diep as a martyr for the faith. An organizing committee was formed, comprising bishops from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Vietnam, priests from Can Tho Diocese, and postulators for the cause of beatification.

The main venue, Tac Say Pilgrimage Center, has a capacity of about 20,000 people. To accommodate more attendees, the organizing committee prepared an additional 5-hectare plot of land opposite the church, which can welcome approximately 100,000 faithful. This area will feature a main altar and large screen systems. About 10,000 seats will be arranged for priests, religious, and invited guests.

Can Tho Diocese is coordinating with the authorities of Ca Mau province and Can Tho City to develop traffic diversion plans and ensure security.

Khuon vien nha tho Tac Say o Ca Mau. Photo: Catholic Bishops' Conference of Vietnam

Father Phanxico Xavie Truong Buu Diep was born on 1/1/1897 in Con Phuoc parish (now part of Long Dien commune, An Giang province). After studying at Cu Lao Gieng Minor Seminary and Nam Vang Major Seminary (Cambodia), he was ordained a priest in 1924.

From 1930, he served as parish priest of Tac Say. During his 16 years of ministry, the priest earned the respect of the faithful for his simple life and dedicated care for his flock, especially his love for the poor, without distinction between Catholics and non-Catholics.

He was also a grand-uncle and played a significant role in guiding the late Cardinal Gioan Baotixita Pham Minh Man, former Archbishop of the Archdiocese of TP HCM, on his religious path.

Khuon vien chinh dien ra thanh le tuyen phong Chan phuoc cho linh muc Truong Buu Diep. Photo: Catholic Bishops' Conference of Vietnam

On 12/3/1946, amidst turmoil, Father Truong Buu Diep was arrested along with over 70 faithful. A few days later, his body was found and buried. In 1969, his tomb was relocated to Tac Say, becoming a pilgrimage site for many local and international devotees.

The process for his beatification began in 2013 when Can Tho Diocese opened a diocesan-level investigation. The dossier was completed in 2017 and sent to Rome. In 2019, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints concluded that the dossier was valid to begin the cause for beatification. On 25/11/2024, His Holiness the Pope authorized the promulgation of the decree recognizing Father Truong Buu Diep's martyrdom.

Beatification, also known as "Blessed", is a title conferred by the Roman Catholic Church upon a deceased person. It recognizes that they lived a holy life, are enjoying heavenly happiness, and possess the ability to intercede. This is the third stage in the Church's process of canonization: Servant of God - Venerable - Blessed - Saint.

According to the Archdiocese of Saigon website, the first martyr of the Vietnamese Church was catechist Andrew Phu Yen (martyred in 1644), who was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2000. To date, Vietnam has 117 martyrs from the period 1644-1883, who were beatified and then canonized as saints.

Chuc Ly