Diocese of Bà Rịa
The Diocese of Bà Rịa is a Latin rite suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Saigon, in southern Vietnam, yet it depends on the missionary Dicastery for Evangelization.
Its cathedral episcopal see is Cathedral of Mary, Mother of God, dedicated to the Apostles Saint Philip and Saint James, in the city of Bà Rịa, Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu province, Southeastern Vietnam.
History
The bishopric was established on 22 November 2005 as Diocese of Ba Ria / Bà Rịa / 巴地 / Barianen, on territory detached from the Diocese of Xuân Lôc.According to Jesuit missionaries, in 1670, in Xích Lam, near Bà Rịa, there were nearly 300 Catholic families. According to a report of Bishop M. Labbé, in 1670, "Dong Nai had at least over 2,000 parishioners". According to Adrien Launay, in 1747, the Đồng Nai region already had parish communities in Bengo, R. Dou-nai, Dalua Ke-tat Dou-mon, R. Moxoai, Ba-ria, Nui-nua and Ðất Ðỏ, under the care of MEP and Jesuit missionaries.
Statistics and extent
As per 2014, the diocese pastorally served 254,302 Catholics on an area of 1,989 km² in 84 parishes with 166 priests, 799 lay religious and 71 seminarians.Ordinaries
Coadjutor Bishops
- Emmanuel Nguyễn Hồng Sơn
Diocesan superiors
- Vicar General: Joseph Võ Công Tiến
- Rector of St. Thomas Hải Sơn Seminary: Joseph Đoàn Như Nghĩa
- Chancellor of the Episcopal See: Jean Baptiste Nguyễn Văn Bộ
- Chief of Office of the Bishopric: Joseph Nguyễn Công Luận
- Dean of Bà Rịa: Joseph Đặng Cao Trí
- Dean of Vũng Tàu: Matthew Trần Bảo Long
- Dean of Long Hương: Alphonsus Nguyễn Văn Thế
- Dean of Bình Giã: Paul Lê Đình Hùng
- Dean of Xuyên Mộc: Peter Đinh Phước Đại