South Asia-2  

This blog discusses the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Sri Lanka

The first Sinhalese arrived in what is now Sri Lanka from northern India six centuries before Christ.  Buddhism was introduced in about 250 B.C.  In the 14th century, a south Indian dynasty established a Tamil kingdom in northern Sri Lanka. The Portuguese controlled the coastal areas of the island in the 16th century followed by the Dutch in the 17th century. The island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was formally united under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. 

The Portuguese introduced Catholicism, but the Dutch outlawed Catholicism in favor of Protestantism.  The British eliminated the anti-Catholic Dutch laws in 1806.  Blessed Joseph Vaz, and Oratorian priest, was largely responsible for keeping the Catholic Faith alive in Ceylon during Dutch rule.

Slightly more than 70 percent of Sri Lanka’s 23 million people are Buddhist.  Another 13 percent are Hindu, 10 percent are Muslim and 7 percent are Christian.  Over 80 percent of the Christians are Catholic.  Catholics are served by the Province of Colombo.

Province of Colombo

The province consists of the nation of Sri Lanka.  The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Colombo was established as the Diocese of Ceylon in 1834 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Colombo in 1886.  

St. Lucia’s Cathedral in Colombo was built to replace an earlier, smaller cathedral.  Construction began on the current Renaissance and Baroque structure in 1872, and although the first Mass was celebrated in 1881, construction would not be completed until 1902.  The interior, which can hold 6,000 worshipers, has intricately carved dark wood confessionals and several large statues of saints, most of which were installed in 1924.  The main altar has a statue of St. Lucy holding her eyes in her hand.  The Cathedral also has a dark-skinned Madonna and Child statue known as Our Lady of Kotahena, which has been at the Cathedral since 1938.

From Dreamstime and Wikipedia.

The Province has 11 suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Jaffna was created as an apostolic vicariate in 1845 and became a diocese in 1886.
• The Diocese of Kandy was created as an apostolic vicariate in 1883 and became a diocese in 1886.
• The Diocese of Galle was created in 1893.
• The Diocese of Trincomalee was created in 1893.
• The Diocese of Chilaw was created in 1939.
• The Diocese of Badulla was created in 1972.
• The Diocese of Mannar was created in 1981.
• The Diocese of Anuradhapura was created as an apostolic prefecture in 1975 and became a diocese in 1982.
• The Diocese of Kurunegala was created in 1987.
• The Diocese of Ratnapura was created in 1995.
• The Diocese of Batticaloa was created in 2012.

Thailand

The Kingdom of Siam was established in the 1300s and this became a constitutional monarchy in 1932.  Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia to have never been colonized by a European nation.  Catholicism came to what is now Thailand by Portuguese traders and the missionaries that followed them in the mid-1500s.  Serious evangelization began about a century later, but was ended with persecution in 1688.  Evangelization began again in the 19th Century.    

Almost 95 percent of Thailand’s 69 million people are Buddhist.  Another 4 percent are Muslim and 1 percent are Christian.  The Christians are equally divided between Catholics and Protestants.  Catholics are served by the ecclesiastic provinces of Bangkok and Thare and Nonseng.

Province of Bangkok

The province consists of northwestern and southwestern Thailand.  The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bangkok was established as the Apostolic Vicariate of Siam in 1662.  This became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bangkok in 1965.  

The Cathedral of the Assumption in Bangkok was designed by a French architect and completed in 1821.  The cathedral was largely reconstructed between 1910 and 1918 in a Romanesque style.  The cathedral was heavily damaged during the Second World War, but has been restored.  The red-brick building has two square towers and an ornate interior.  Stained glass windows were installed during the most recent renovation.  The Cathedral has been visited by both Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis.  The crypt contains the remains of Blessed Nicholas Boonkerd Kitbamrung, a Thai priest and martyr.  

The first picture is from Flickr, the second from Pinterest, and the rest from Wikipedia.

The Province has six suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Ratchaburi was created as a Mission sui juris in 1930, became an apostolic prefecture in 1934, and apostolic vicariate in 1941, and a diocese in 1965.
• The Diocese of Chanthaburi was created as an apostolic vicariate in 1944 and became a diocese in 1965.
• The Diocese of Chiang Mai was created as an apostolic prefecture in 1959 and became a diocese in 1965.
• The Diocese of Nakhon Sawan was created in 1967.
• The Diocese of Surat Thani was created in 1969.
• The Diocese of Chiang Rai was created in 2018.

Province of Thare and Nonseng

The province consists of eastern Thailand.  The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Thare and Nonseng was established as an apostolic vicariate in 1899 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1965.  

St. Michael the Archangel Cathedral in Tha Rae is a modern building resembling a ship.  The front of the cathedral rises higher than the rest of the building and is topped with a cross.

Both pictures are from tourist websites.

St. Anne’s Co-Cathedral in Mueang Nakhon Phanom was built in the last century and features French-colonial, Thai, and Vietnamese design features.  It has twin towers and features a statue of St. Anne in front of the entrance.  The grounds have mango and papaya trees.

The first picture is from Inspirock and the others are from local tourist websites.

The Province has three suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Nakhon Ratchasima was created as an apostolic vicariate in 1965 and became a diocese later that year.
• The Diocese of Ubon Ratchathani was created as an apostolic vicariate in 1953 and became a diocese in 1965.
• The Diocese of Udon Thani was created as an apostolic prefecture in 1953 and became a diocese in 1965.

Vietnam

France conquered Vietnam between 1858 and 1884 and it became part of French Indochina in 1887. Vietnam declared independence after the Second World War, but France continued to rule until it was defeated by Vietnamese Communist forces in 1954.  At that time Vietnam was partitioned into the Communist North and the non-Communist South.  Reunification and a Communist government came in 1975 after American forces withdrew.

Portuguese and Spanish missionaries came to Vietnam in the 16th Century, but successful evangelization did not happen until Jesuits (mostly Italian, Portuguese, and Japanese) came in the early 17th Century.  The Jesuits even developed an alphabet for the Vietnamese language.  The Jesuits were followed by Foreign Missions Society missionaries from France, Dominicans from Spain and Italy, an Augustinians from Italy.

About 10 percent of Vietnam’s 99 million people are Buddhist, 7 percent are Catholic, and 1 percent are Protestant.  The other 82 percent have no religious beliefs.  Catholics are served by one of three ecclesiastic provinces:  Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hue.

Province of Hanoi

The province consists of northern Vietnam.  The Apostolic Vicariate of Tonking was created in 1659.  This became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Hanoi in 1960.

Construction of St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Hanoi was completed in 1886 in a Gothic Revival style.  It was built by the French and resembles Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.  It is the oldest church in Hanoi.  The granite, brick, and concrete cathedral has twin bell towers, each 103 feet tall and holding five bells.  The stained glass windows were made in France.  The Cathedral was closed from the late 1950s until 1990 by the Communist government.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Province has ten suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Hai Phong was created as the Apostolic Vicariate of Eastern Tonking in 1678 and became the Diocese of Hai Phong in 1960.
• The Diocese of Vinh was created as the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Tonking in 1846 and became the Diocese of Vinh in 1960.
• The Diocese of Bui Chu was created as the Apostolic Vicariate of Central Tonking in 1848 and became the Diocese of Bui Chu in 1960.
• The Diocese of Bac Ninh was created as the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Tonking in 1883 and became the Diocese of Bac Ninh in 1960.
• The Diocese of Hung Hoa was created as the Apostolic Vicariate of Upper Tonking in 1895 and became the Diocese of Hung Hoa in 1960.
• The Diocese of Phat Diem was created as the Apostolic Vicariate of Coastal Tonking in 1901 and became the Diocese of Phat Diem in 1960.
• The Diocese of Thanh Hoa was created as an apostolic vicariate in 1932 and became a diocese in 1960.
• The Diocese of Thai Binh was created as an apostolic vicariate in 1936 and became a diocese in 1960.  
• The Diocese of Lang Son et Cao Bang was created as an apostolic prefecture in 1913, became an apostolic vicariate in 1939, and became a diocese in 1960.
• The Diocese of Ha Tinh was created in 2018.

Province of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

The province consists of southern Vietnam.  The Apostolic Vicariate of Western Cochin was established in 1844 and this became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Saigon in 1960.  It was renamed in 1976.

Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica in Ho Chi Minh City was built by the French between 1877 and 1880.  The stone and brick cathedral is built in a Romanesque style with building materials imported from France.  There are two 190-foot bell towers, each with three bronze bells.  Pope John XXIII declared the cathedral to be a minor basilica in 1962. 

The top picture is from Flickr and the others are from Wikipedia.

The Province has nine suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Vinh Long was established in as an apostolic vicariate in 1938 and became a diocese in 1960.
• The Diocese of Can Tho was established as an apostolic vicariate in 1955 and was promoted to a diocese in 1960.
• The Diocese of Da Lat was established in 1960.
• The Diocese of Long Xuyen was established in 1960.
• The Diocese of My Tho was established in 1960.
• The Diocese of Phu Cuong was established in 1965.
• The Diocese of Xuan Loc was established in 1965.
• The Diocese of Phan Thiet was established in 1975.
• The Diocese of Ba Ria was established in 2005.

Province of Hue

The province consists of Central Vietnam.  The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Hue was established as the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Cochin in 1850 and this became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Hue in 1960.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral in Hue was designed by architect Ngo Viet Thu in a modern design.  Construction began in 1963, but because of war and turmoil in Vietnam, was not completed until 2000.  The brick and stone façade culminates in twin towers each topped with a cross.  The Cathedral can hold 2,500 worshippers.

The first picture is from Pinterest and the others are from Wikipedia.

The Province has five suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Quy Nhon was created as the Apostolic Vicariate of Cochin in 1659, became the Apostolic Vicariate of Eastern Cochin in 1844 and was promoted to a diocese in 1960.
• The Diocese of Kontum was created as an apostolic vicariate in 1932 and became a diocese in 1960.
• The Diocese of Nha Trang was created as an apostolic vicariate in 1957 and became a diocese in 1960.
• The Diocese of Da Nang was created in 1963.
• The Diocese of Ban Me Thuot was created in 1967.

Definitions

The Catholic Church is mostly divided into ecclesiastical provinces—a province consists of a metropolitan archdiocese and one or more dioceses.  The province and the archdiocese are led by an archbishop.  Each of the dioceses is called a suffragan diocese and is led by a bishop.  Archbishops have some responsibilities for the province, but all bishops answer directly to the Pope.  There are also missionary jurisdictions below the level of a diocese.  These include apostolic vicariates, apostolic prefectures, and Missions sui juris.

A basilica is an honorary title bestowed on a church by the Pope because of the church’s antiquity, dignity, historical importance, or significance as a center of worship.  Some cathedrals are also basilicas.  Each basilica has a ceremonial umbrella in the papal colors of white and yellow and a ceremonial bell.  Both of these are symbolic of the Pope’s special relationship to the basilica.