Dominican priest killed in Vietnam

Bishop Aloisiô Nguyên Hùng Vi of Kon Tum says a funerary Mass for Fr. Giuse Trần Ngọc Thanh, O.P., at Plei Đôn chapel in Kon Rơbang parish, Vietnam, Jan. 30, 2022. Bishop Aloisiô Nguyên Hùng Vi of Kon Tum says a funerary Mass for Fr. Giuse Trần Ngọc Thanh, O.P., at Plei Đôn chapel in Kon Rơbang parish, Vietnam, Jan. 30, 2022. | Diocese of Kon Tum.

Father Giuse (Joseph) Trần Ngọc Thanh, O.P., was killed in a knife attack on Saturday.

Fr. Trần was attacked Jan. 29 at a mission of Dak Mot, about 40 miles northwest of Kon Tum. He was hearing confessions before the last Mass of the evening, according to Ordo Praedicatorum on Facebook.

The Diocese of Kon Tum said he was murdered in the church, and that a suspect has been arrested.

Fr. Trần was born in 1981 in Ho Chi Minh City, and took his religious vows in 2010. He was ordained a priest in 2018. 

A funerary ceremony was held Jan. 30 at the Dominican monastery in Kon Tum. 

His interment will be held Jan. 31 at St. Martin Chapel in Biên Hòa.

“Please unite to pray so that Father Guise's soul may soon enjoy the glory of God,” the Diocese of Kon Tum said Jan. 30.

Editor's note, Feb. 1, 2022: An earlier version of this article mistranslated a statement of the Kon Tum diocese. The article had indicated the diocese said Fr. Trần was murdered in his house, while in fact it said 'in the house of worship' or 'in the church'.

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