ASIA/VIETNAM - Young Catholic gives his life to save three students: a martyr for the nation

Huè (Agenzia Fides) - A young Catholic who gave his life to save three female students from drowning, is appreciated and recognized as a martyr by the Vietnamese nation. The president of Vietnam, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, has awarded Peter Khoa (Catholic name) Nguyen Van Nha, the posthumous recognition of "Vietnamese citizen martyr". As Agenzia Fides learns, his story and his sacrifice have had national echo, and are an example of how the Vietnamese faithful are fully committed to the good of others, of society, of the nation. Peter Nguyen Van Nha, 23, of Dong Lang Parish in Vinh Diocese, was swimming with friends in the sea near Phu Thuan commune in Phu Vang district of Thua Thien Hue province on April 30 when three female students got into difficulty. As they were being swept out to sea by strong currents, he risked his life to bring them back to safety. Exhausted, he was swept away by the waves and his body was found by a rescue team after 30 minutes of searching. The news of his sacrifice went viral on social media and soon appeared in national news and on public mass media. Everyone highlighted the courage, the dedication, the humanity of a young man who is considered a worthy example for all young people and for the whole nation, in such a difficult moment, marked by the pandemic. The Catholic communities have, in particular, noted his altruism and "giving his life for his friends" following the example of Christ Jesus. Hundreds of people, who respected social distances and anti Covid protocols, attended the funeral in the church of his parish, in an atmosphere of profound emotion, and a large number of students and professors from the University of Hue, where the young man was studying, took part at the commemoration ceremony, organized in recent days by the Hue Youth Union.
A special fundraiser was also launched to help his family, expressing concrete gratitude and appreciation for the young man's gesture. Peter Khoa Nguyen Van Nha was awarded the title of "Brave Youth" by the Vietnam Youth Association, while the president of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc also publicly expressed his condolences to Nha's family and awarded the young man with the recognition of "martyr for the nation".
Peter Khoa Nguyen Van Nha was born in 1988 into a very poor Catholic family in the district of Quynh Luu, in the province of Nghe An, which belongs to the diocese of Vinh. A fourth year student at the University of Hue, he was known as a young man with an exemplary character and behavior for the university and the community. He was a committed and enthusiastic lay person in the church. In addition to his commitment to studies, he gave his diligent contribution to the pastoral life and activities of the church, also thinking, as his family members tell us, of the possibility of becoming a priest. The Catholic community in Vietnam is represented by 8% of the population out of 96 million people who are Buddhists. The social activities of the Catholic Church are rarely published in state newspapers and on social media. However, ecclesial bodies, institutions and communities across the country continue to quietly carry out many charitable works, humanitarian and social activities towards the most disadvantaged and vulnerable people. The sacrifice of Peter Khoa Nguyen Van Nha is understood by all as the full and concrete testimony of the teachings of Jesus Christ. The supreme gift of life of Peter Khoa Nguyen Van Nha - say the faithful who knew him - is the seed of the Good News of the Gospel planted in the society of Vietnam. (AD-PA) (Agenzia Fides, 14/5/2021)

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