On February 22, 2014, the Pilgrimage Center of St. Philip Phan Văn Minh - Đình Khao held a ceremony to inaugurate its new church at Vinh Long locality, Vinh Long diocese of Thanh Duc commune, Long Ho District, Vinh Long Province.
The opening ceremony saw the attendance of Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, Vatican's non-resident special envoy to Vietnam, Bishop Stephen of Can Tho diocese and the prelate of Vinh Long diocese. There were also150 priests and about 2,000 Catholics attending the event.
With the approval and support from the local authorities in land allocation and construction permits, after 4 years of work, the church was completed with 36 meters long, 12 meters wide, 17.5 meters high. Its bell tower is 42 meters high. The church consists of a ground floor and a storey. The ground floor would be used for annual major festivals in the diocese.
Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli was delighted when attending the Mass and deeply moved to see the spiritual and religious life at the pilgrimage centre.
TL
