Church of the Vietnamese Holy Martyrs - Kansas City

Parish Story & History

The parish grew out of the post-1975 Vietnamese diaspora. Bishop John Sullivan of the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph formally established the Vietnamese Catholic Community in August 1981, entrusting it to Fr. Giuse Phan Trọng Hanh and hosting it at Holy Rosary Parish. On February 4, 1991 the diocese gave the community its own church at 4101 E. 105th Terrace and erected it as the personal parish Giáo Xứ Các Thánh Tử Đạo Việt Nam, named for the Vietnamese Holy Martyrs.

• 1975 — Wave of Vietnamese Catholic refugees resettles in Kansas City, supported spiritually by Fr. Phan Đức Đổng and Fr. Nguyễn Ngọc Thanh.
• August 1981 — Bishop John Sullivan establishes the Vietnamese Catholic Community in the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph; Fr. Giuse Phan Trọng Hanh appointed Quản Nhiệm at Holy Rosary Parish, 911 E. Missouri Ave.
• February 4, 1991 — Parish formally erected; community receives the present church building; Fr. Phan Trọng Hanh named first pastor (cha sở).
• 25th anniversary — community grown from ~175 founding families to nearly 550 families; 300+ children in Giáo Lý and Việt ngữ classes.

Our Team & Clergy

The parish is served by a Vietnamese clergy team, with a retired founding pastor still in residence.

• Fr. Phanxicô Phạm Quang Hậu — Pastor (Lm. Chánh Xứ)
• Fr. Giuse Phan Trọng Hanh — Retired Priest (Lm. Retired Priest); founding pastor (cell: 816-916-0894; home: 816-607-1478)
• Parish Office: 816-333-3214 | Email: [email protected]

Mission

The parish's stated mission is to follow the example of the Vietnamese Martyrs in living the teaching of Jesus Christ through witness, charity, and unity, and to preserve Vietnamese language and culture as an integral part of the spiritual wellbeing of God's people.

Faith Formation & Vietnamese Language

The parish runs weekly Giáo Lý (religious education / catechesis) and Việt ngữ (Vietnamese language) classes for children, drawing more than 300 students each week. Teaching is shared by the Sisters of the Congregation of the Virgins (Dòng Trinh Vương) and parish catechists.

• Giáo Lý — religious education
• Việt ngữ — Vietnamese language classes
• Sisters of the Dòng Trinh Vương as key faith-formation staff

Parish Organizations & Music

Parish life is sustained by active đoàn thể (lay organizations) and ca đoàn (choirs) that meet regularly and have grown steadily in both membership and spiritual depth since the parish was founded.

• Các đoàn thể — parish organizations
• Ca đoàn — parish choirs

Sacraments & Parish Forms

The parish provides Vietnamese-language sacramental preparation and downloadable parish forms on its website for the most common pastoral needs.

• Đơn Xin Học Giáo Lý Hôn Nhân — Marriage preparation class registration
• Đơn Xin Rửa Tội — Baptism form
• Đơn Gia Nhập Giáo Xứ — Joining the parish
• Đơn Cập Nhập Danh Sách Giáo Xứ — Update parish list
• Đơn Đổi Địa Chỉ — Change of address

Patron: The 117 Vietnamese Holy Martyrs

The parish is named for the 117 Vietnamese Martyrs — 96 native Vietnamese and 21 Spanish or French missionaries — who were killed for the faith between 1745 and 1862 and canonized together by Pope John Paul II on June 19, 1988. The group stands for an estimated 100,000–300,000 unnamed martyrs whose blood was the seed of the Church in Vietnam. Their memorial in the General Roman Calendar is celebrated on November 24.

• Feast day: November 24
• Canonized June 19, 1988 by Pope John Paul II
• Includes bishops, priests, religious, laypeople, a mother of six, and a nine-year-old child

Visit & Contact

The parish welcomes visitors to its church at 4101 E. 105th Terrace, Kansas City, MO 64137. As a personal parish it is open to any Vietnamese Catholic in the area regardless of geographic parish boundaries, and registration is handled through the parish office.

• Address: 4101 E. 105th Terrace, Kansas City, MO 64137
• Phone: 816-333-3214
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: http://www.giaoxukcmo.org/
• Diocese: Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph