HO CHI MINH CITY (UCAN): Dominican Father Joseph Tran Ngoc Thanh, who provided pastoral care for Sa Loong Subparish in Kon Tum province, in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, was stabbed multiple times while hearing confessions on January 29.
An informed source from the Diocese of Kontum said that Father Tran died hours after being hospitalised. He was 40-years-old.
“His death is a great loss to the local Church and Dominicans,” the source said, adding that the priest offered his youth to God and other people, and that he obeyed God’s will.
Bishop Aloisius Nguyen Hung Vi of Kontum, who celebrated a funeral Mass for Father Tran on January 30, said he was stunned with grief by his sudden death. He never thought such a horrific thing would happen before Tet, the Lunar New Year holiday.
“We cannot understand God’s plans except to offer our brother to him,” Bishop Nguyen said.
Dominican Father Paul Cao Thang said his confrère was extremely gentle and had good relationships with all people.
Father Cao said the Dominican priest, who made his vows in 2010 and was ordained a priest eight years later, dedicated himself to serving ethnic groups in Kontum where there is a relative lack of priests working in ethnic villages.
“The incident was painful but beautiful—people love the deceased father but have much pity on those who are controlled by evil,” said Father Cao.
He said Father Tran’s killing is a reminder for people to work together to make evil disappear from the world. “Please pray for us to follow your ministry,” he said.
The Dominicans celebrated a funeral Mass on January 31, after Father Tran’s body was transferred to St. Martin de Porres Monastery in Bien Hoa. He was buried in a Dominican cemetery.
