SHARE AT THE BURIAL MASS / MEMORIAL SERVICE Father John the Baptist Hoang Van Khanh

 SHARE AT THE BURIAL MASS / MEMORIAL SERVICE Father John the Baptist Hoang Van Khanh Phan Thiet Retirement Home for Priests – 7:00 PM, October 14, 2026

• Letter of Pope Leo XIV to Priests (January 28, 2026) (Despite the changes of times and culture)... priests are those conformed to the image of Christ, capable of sustaining their ministry springing from a living relationship with Him, nourished by the Eucharist, and expressed in a pastoral charity marked by sincere self-oblation... and be entirely Christ’s. (St. John of Ávila)

• A Glimpse into the Life of Late Father John the Baptist:

  • 51 years of a dedicated priesthood. He quietly inaugurated his ministry in Vinh An and also chose Vinh An as his final resting place—a priestly life fully completed with his Golden Jubilee plus one.

  • True to his patron saint, John the Baptist, his life was one of pioneering and commitment.

Pastoral Milestones and Pioneering Spirit

• At Vinh An Parish: After 1975, Vinh An Parish had no resident priest. He quietly went there to celebrate Mass and carry out pastoral work, starting from a small room in front of Thuan Nghia Church.

• At Vinh Phú Parish: When Vinh Phú Church was closed, he persevered to reopen it. If Vinh An carried the meaning of peace and quiet, Vinh Phú represented the "wealth" of service:

  • He personally took charge of repairing Vinh Phú Church.

  • This place once served as the cradle for training catechists for the entire diocese.

  • "Where there is difficulty, go to Vinh Phú," and he was always closely associated with the mission of training catechist classes. He participated in the diocesan catechetical work for many years.

• Studies Abroad and Education: He was a pioneering priest sent abroad for studies from the Diocese of Phan Thiết. All his passion and dedication were devoted to study and formation. He compiled the Biblical Catechesis book series, which has been extremely useful for many generations of catechists and religious.

• Saint Nicholas Seminary: He was the first Rector of the Saint Nicholas Seminary in Phan Thiết. It can be said that without him, the Nicholas Seminary would have struggled to survive and develop. He also devotedly taught at various seminaries, institutes, and religious congregations of men and women.

• Transition: When there was a change in the diocesan bishop with the arrival of Bishop Paul, he concluded his service as Rector of Saint Nicholas Seminary.

• At Vinh Tân & Thanh Hải Parishes: He accompanied the lay theology courses in Vinh Tân. Here, he was trusted and appointed as Vicar General, before taking charge of Thanh Hải Parish for a short period.

• The Final Harbor – Thanh Xuân Parish (from 2015 until retirement): By this time, advanced age and illness began to test him.

Portrait of a Pastor: Joy, Intellect, and the Cross

• Joy and Smiles: Despite being busy with studies, research, and intellectual pursuits, a smile and radiating joy were always present on his face for everyone.

• Years of Retirement and the Way of the Cross: Five years of retirement marked the final resting stage of his priestly life, yet it was filled with the pain of illness. On the day the retirement home was inaugurated (following the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady), when I visited him, he had already put on his vestments for Mass.

• "Pain!" – that was the phrase he uttered many times when I met him, especially after he took on Thanh Xuân Parish. He walked the complete path of the Passion of a true priest following in the footsteps of Christ.

• Both he and I had the opportunity to work together in the Diocesan Catechetical Board for over a decade in Phan Thiết. He always placed the interests of the Church above all else.

• Serving in various roles—such as parish priest, dean, vicar general, or in the fields of education, organization, leadership as Head of the Diocesan Catechetical Board, seminary rector, professor of Biblical Theology, or spiritual director—he was always energetic and stood out with respectable achievements.

• Now he has been called home by the Lord. May the Lord forgive all his faults.

"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them and will make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them." (John 17:25-26)

He united himself with Christ the Good Shepherd, offering his life to the Heavenly Father.

We entrust Father John the Baptist into Your divine mercy. Amen.

GEMINI dịch ra tiếng Anh