NEW YORK – After decades of pleas Vietnamese Catholics in the Archdiocese of Boston can now celebrate the Eucharist in their native tongue with the establishment of the archdiocese’s first Vietnamese parish on Sunday.
About 600 faithful filled the pews of Saint Clement Church in Medford – now a part of the Blessed Andrew Phú Yên Parish – for what auxiliary Bishop Mark O’Connell of Boston told Crux felt like “a big celebration” with a big choir, drums and dancing.
“At the Mass yesterday I was just full of gratitude about the timing and everything,” said Father Phong Pham, who O’Connell installed as pastor on Sunday. “I was filled with gratitude that God really answered the cry of the Vietnamese Catholics and I think this is just the perfect timing and just God’s spirit and God’s hands were written all over it and on the face of the people.”
Source: Archdiocese of Boston gets first Vietnamese parish - Crux