In the Eye of the Storm, We Found an Unshakeable Faith

CWM
Oct 14
3 min read

Updated: 5 days ago

VIETNAM

For eight years as the Board Chair of Catholic World Mission, I’ve seen reports and heard stories of the incredible work our partners do. But nothing can prepare you for the moment you see it with your own eyes. Nothing can prepare you for Vietnam.

I had the privilege of traveling there at the invitation of Phillip and Rachael Tran, who have been leading missions to their homeland for over a decade. Our goal was to visit the projects of our new partners, the Lovers of the Holy Cross, a missionary order of sisters serving the poor in the country’s remote northern highlands and throughout the country.

What we found was a cinematic mix of breathtaking beauty, profound hardship, and a faith that shines with the brilliance of a thousand suns. And we found it all in the middle of Typhoon Noru, one of the most powerful storms to hit the region in decades.

A Mission Under Fire (and Flood)

Our mission trip was a constant battle against the elements. After visiting the colorfully dressed Hmong people in the mountains near Laos—where the sisters have helped build roads, install water filters, and replace dirt floors with cement—the storm hit. We narrowly escaped being trapped by mudslides, only to drive for hours through torrential rain.

At one point, the road ahead vanished into 3.5 feet of rushing floodwater. The bridge behind us had already washed out. We were trapped. Sheltering in the humble home of a parishioner with all electricity out in the area, we could only wait and accept their humble hospitality. When the waters finally receded just enough, we plowed through until we reached safety. Two hours later, we received word that a mudslide had demolished part of the very home where we had taken refuge.

The physical storm was a fitting backdrop for the spiritual and political challenges our Catholic family in Vietnam endures daily. In one village, I was tailed by Communist officials and had to be hidden in our truck, unable to greet the people we came to serve. Later that evening, after sneaking through the dark on a muddy path to concelebrate a secret Mass in a wooden hut, those same officials tracked me to our hotel.

They "invited" me for questioning. With no one speaking English, we haltingly used translation apps until a guide arrived. The verdict: my visa was invalid for this restricted area. We were forced to leave in the middle of the night, driving for hours in the dark to find a place to rest. It was a stark reminder of the risks local priests and sisters take every single day to bring the Sacraments to their people.

The Radiant Heart of the Church

Yet, for every moment of hardship, there were a dozen moments of overwhelming grace. The true story of Vietnam is not the storm; it’s the strength of the Church that withstands it.

We stayed in several convents of a Vietnamese congregation of sisters called Lovers of the Holy Cross, and it was like touching the vibrant, beating heart of the Church. In one convent, over 200 sisters—most of them young and joyful—began their day singing morning prayer in community at 4:30 AM. They run preschools for 500 children, care for 24 severely handicapped children, provide a medical clinic for the poor, and much more. Their life is one of absolute service, fueled by deep and constant prayer.

Everywhere we went, we saw the legacy of 300 years of persecution that produced hundreds of thousands of martyrs. We visited the shrine at the bishop's house in Nam Dinh and the basilica in So Kien, where the relics of dozens of these heroes are preserved. Their sacrifice has produced a harvest of faith that is simply breathtaking. The churches are large, beautiful, and full. The faith is strong, deeply woven into the fabric of daily life.

Come and See: A Pilgrimage to Vietnam in 2026

I came back from Vietnam a different person. My faith was strengthened by the witness of these incredible people. It’s an experience I believe every Catholic should have.

That is why I am thrilled to announce that CWM is planning a mission and pilgrimage to Vietnam, tentatively set for November 5-15, 2026.

This is your invitation to move beyond being a spectator and become a missionary disciple. You will pray with the sisters, serve the poor in the villages, and walk in the footsteps of the martyrs. It is not a vacation and won’t be for the fainthearted; it is a journey that will change your heart.

I went to Vietnam to see the fruits of our mission. I left having received far more than I could ever give, with a renewed sense of urgency for our work and a profound gratitude for the gift of our universal Church. Thank you for being a part of it.