ASIA/VIETNAM - Appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Nha Trang

Vatican City (Fides Service) - The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI on 8 November 2005 appointed coadjutor Bishop of Nha Trang diocese (Viêt Nam) Rev. Joseph Vo Duc Minh until now parish priest of the cathedral and vicar general of the diocese of Dalat.
The new Bishop was born on 10 September 1944 at My Duc, Le Thuy, Quang Binh province, archdiocese of Hué. He attended the minor seminary in Saigon (1956-1965) and then went to study philosophy Saigon major seminary (1965-1966), completing his studies for the priesthood in Fribourg, Switzerland (1966-1971) with a licentiate in Theology. He was ordained a priest for the diocese of Dalat on 24 April 1971. He was then sent to Rome to study at the Biblical Institute for a licentiate in Sacred Scripture (1971-1974). He returned to Vietnam in 1974 and has since served as follows: Professor of sacred scripture at Minh Hoa major seminary, Dalat, St Joseph’s major seminary Hochiminh-ville, Stella Maris major seminary in Nha Trang. He gave Biblical Courses to a number of religious communities in various parts of the country and was at the same time Bishop’s Secretary (1975-1991). Since 1991 he has been parish priest at Dalat cathedral and since 1999, Vicar General. He is a member of the team for ongoing formation of Dalat clergy.
Nha Trang diocese created in 1960 is a suffragan of the archdiocese of Hué. It has an area of 9,486sq. km., a population of 1,564,400 including 185,064 Catholics gathered in 69 parishes, assisted by 144 priests (98 diocesan and 46 religious), 363 women religious, 56 brothers and there are 82 major seminarians. The diocese has an inter-diocesan major seminary (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 8/11/2005; Righe 19; Parole 274)