About Vietnamese Martyrs · Sacramento, California
Vietnamese Martyrs Parish (Giáo Xứ Các Thánh Tử Đạo Việt Nam) is the first and only Vietnamese personal parish in the State of California, canonically erected on November 29, 2009 by Bishop Jaime Soto of the Diocese of Sacramento. Located at 8181 Florin Road in south Sacramento, the parish serves the Vietnamese Catholic community of the greater Sacramento area and celebrates all Masses in Vietnamese. The parish is named for the 117 Vietnamese Martyrs canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1988 — most famously led by St. Andrew Dũng-Lạc — who died for the faith between 1745 and 1862. The community today is served by priests of the Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix (CRM) and ministers through six parish choirs, six neighborhood groups (Giáo Khu), an Education Center named for St. Joseph, and a wide network of lay organizations.
- Established
- 1976 (community) / 2009 (canonical parish)
- Patron
- The 117 Vietnamese Martyrs (Các Thánh Tử Đạo Việt Nam), led by St. Andrew Dũng-Lạc
- Rector
- Rev. John Eudes Vu Tien Cao (Cha Gioan Êuđê M. Cao Tiến Vũ / Nghi), CRM
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sacramento (Sacramento County, Southern Suburbs Deanery)
Why belong here
Vietnamese Martyrs is the spiritual home of Sacramento's Vietnamese Catholic community and the only Vietnamese personal parish in the State of California, offering all Masses in Vietnamese every day of the week plus confession before every weekend Mass. Parishioners worship on a 16-acre campus centered on a 1,000-seat sanctuary and supported by six parish choirs, six neighborhood groups (Giáo Khu), an active Hội Cao Niên (Seniors' Association) for members 65 and older, a vibrant youth apostolate through the Trung Tâm Giáo Dục Thánh Giuse (St. Joseph Education Center), and a wide network of lay movements including Legio Mariae, Phong Trào Đền Tạ, Đoàn Thiếu Nhi Thánh Thể, and Hội Các Bà Mẹ Công Giáo. For Vietnamese Catholics in the Sacramento region — or anyone seeking a Vietnamese-language Catholic community — the parish combines deep cultural roots, faithful CRM religious leadership, and a flourishing campus built almost entirely by the faithful themselves.
Mass times at Vietnamese Martyrs
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 7:30 AM – 7:55 AM (before 8:00 AM Mass)
- Sunday: 9:30 AM – 9:55 AM (before 10:00 AM Mass)
- Sunday: 12:00 PM – 12:25 PM (before 12:30 PM Mass; or by appointment)
- Saturday: 5:00 PM – 5:25 PM (before Vigil Mass; or by appointment)
- Half hour before all weekend Masses, or by appointment (per Diocese of Sacramento listing)
Adoration times
- Thursday: 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
- Thursday: 8:30 PM (per 2023–2024 diocesan directory)
- First week of each month during the Education Center prayer service: Chầu Thánh Thể (Eucharistic Adoration)
About Vietnamese Martyrs Parish
Vietnamese Martyrs Parish (Giáo Xứ Các Thánh Tử Đạo Việt Nam) is the first and only Vietnamese personal parish in the State of California, canonically erected on November 29, 2009 by Bishop Jaime Soto of the Diocese of Sacramento and headquartered at 8181 Florin Road in south Sacramento. It belongs to the Diocese of Sacramento, Sacramento County, Southern Suburbs Deanery, and is staffed largely by priests of the Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix (CRM). Every Mass — five weekend Masses and eight daily Masses — is celebrated in Vietnamese, and the parish maintains a full schedule of confessions, Eucharistic adoration, faith formation, and lay apostolates rooted in Vietnamese Catholic tradition.
- Type: Personal Parish (Giáo Xứ Thể Nhân)
- Diocese: Sacramento; Deanery: Southern Suburbs, Sacramento County
- Established: 1976 (community) / 2009 (canonical parish)
- All Masses in Vietnamese
History and Founding Story
The community was born from the post-1975 Vietnamese refugee resettlement in Sacramento. Fr. Giacôbê Nguyễn Văn Vi, himself a refugee, founded the community in autumn 1976 with approval from Bishop Alden Bell, gathering 40–50 faithful for Sunday Mass at the Newman Catholic Center. After moves through St. Peter's (1979) and St. Paul's (1981) parishes, the community adopted the name Cộng Đoàn Các Thánh Tử Đạo Việt Nam in 1985 and built its first permanent church on Jackson Road, consecrated November 5, 1988 by Bishop Francis A. Quinn. A second, much larger campus on Florin Road was completed in 2009 and the community was formally erected as a personal parish on November 29, 2009.
- 1975: Vietnamese Catholic families arrive in Sacramento after fall of Saigon
- 1976: Fr. Giuse Nguyễn Văn Tịnh begins monthly Vietnamese Masses; Fr. Giacôbê Nguyễn Văn Vi founds weekly community
- 1984: 5-acre Jackson Road property purchased; March 18, 1984 community recognized by Bishop Quinn
- 1986: Fr. Nguyễn Văn Vi dies June 4; Fr. Hoan succeeds him
- 1988: First church consecrated November 5 (500 seats)
- 2000: 10-acre Florin Road property purchased
- 2009: New 1,000-seat church consecrated June 28; parish canonically erected November 29
- 2010: Founding pastor Fr. Ban dies June 26 from injuries sustained Feb 16, 2009 car accident
- 2018: Adjacent 5-acre parcel purchased, campus expands to 16 acres
The Patron: The 117 Vietnamese Martyrs
The parish is named for the 117 Vietnamese Martyrs (Các Thánh Tử Đạo Việt Nam), canonized together by Pope John Paul II on June 19, 1988 — the largest group of martyrs ever canonized at one time. They include St. Andrew Dũng-Lạc (the representative figure whose name heads the group) and companions who died for the Catholic faith in Vietnam between 1745 and 1862 at the hands of successive Vietnamese dynasties. The Vatican's estimate of the total number of Vietnamese martyrs over the centuries ranges from 130,000 to 300,000.
- Feast day: November 24 (St. Andrew Dũng-Lạc and Companions)
- Pre-1988 local observance: first Sunday of September
- Canonization: June 19, 1988 by Pope John Paul II
- Major shrine: Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Sở Kiện), Hà Nam, Vietnam
- Patronage: Vietnam
Our Priests and Clergy
The parish is currently shepherded by Rev. John Eudes Vu Tien Cao (CRM), Pastor (Chánh Xứ), with Rev. Alphonsus Ba Van Do (CRM) serving as Parochial Vicar (Phó Xứ) and a diaconate team of five: Dcn. An Binh Nguyen, Dcn. Anthony Nguyen, Dcn. Phong Nguyen, Dcn. Ted Nguyen, and Dcn. Henry Tran. Most of the parish's priests since the 1990s have been members of the Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix (CRM / Dòng Đức Mẹ Đồng Công Cứu Chuộc), a Vietnamese religious congregation.
- Pastor: Rev. John Eudes Vu Tien Cao, CRM
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Alphonsus Ba Van Do, CRM
- Deacons: An Binh Nguyen, Anthony Nguyen, Phong Nguyen, Ted Nguyen, Henry Tran
Faith Formation & Religious Education — St. Joseph Education Center
The Trung Tâm Giáo Dục Thánh Giuse (St. Joseph Education Center) was founded in the summer of 1995 by Fr. Tadeô Maria Nguyễn Ngọc Ban, CMC to combine catechism (Giáo Lý), Vietnamese language (Việt Ngữ), and youth formation (Sinh Hoạt Thiếu Nhi) in one program. Starting with about 40 children, the school now serves over 600 students across 11 classrooms on the Florin Road campus. Its stated mission is to pass on the Catholic faith, preserve Vietnamese language and culture, develop character, encourage service, and prepare children to receive the sacraments.
- Three integrated programs: Giáo Lý, Việt Ngữ, Sinh Hoạt Thiếu Nhi
- 600+ students, 11 classrooms
- Daily schedule: prayer, flag salute, catechism, Vietnamese language
- School-wide Retreat on March 21 (Feast of St. Joseph)
- First Communion, First Reconciliation, and two-year Confirmation (CFM1, CFM2) tracks
- Parent Faith Formation Meetings (three per year per track)
- RCIA / Tân Tòng: Saturdays 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Ministries, Choirs, and Lay Organizations
Parish life is organized through six Giáo Khu (neighborhood groups), six weekly Mass choirs plus a Combined Choir for the great feasts, and a wide range of lay associations rooted in Vietnamese Catholic tradition. The parish also fields a Eucharistic Youth Apostolate (Đoàn Thiếu Nhi Thánh Thể) that runs the 12:30 PM Youth Mass, and welcomes all parishioners to take on rotating roles as lectors, gift-bearers, and Eucharistic ministers.
- Six parish choirs (Ca Đoàn) + Ca Đoàn Tổng Hợp (Combined Choir)
- Six Giáo Khu (neighborhood groups)
- Đoàn Thiếu Nhi Thánh Thể — Eucharistic Youth Apostolate
- Hội Các Bà Mẹ Công Giáo — Catholic Mothers' Association
- Gia Đình Tận Hiến — Families of Consecration
- Hội Legio Mariae — Legion of Mary
- Phong Trào Đền Tạ — Reparation Movement
- Hội Cao Niên — Seniors' Association (65+, 100+ members)
- Rotating lectors and gift-bearers from each Giáo Khu and organization
Facilities and Campus
The 16-acre Florin Road campus is centered on a 1,000-seat sanctuary completed in 2009 and includes a 200-seat chapel, a 2,300-seat parish hall, 11 classrooms, a commercial-grade kitchen, and a 400-space parking lot. In 2018 the parish acquired an adjacent 5-acre parcel to accommodate continued growth, with plans for additional parking, an outdoor youth area, and future facilities.
- 1,000-seat main sanctuary
- 200-seat chapel
- 2,300-seat parish hall
- 11 classrooms (St. Joseph Education Center)
- Commercial-grade kitchen
- 400-space parking lot
- 16-acre campus (10 acres original + 5 adjacent acres acquired 2018 + 1 acre from Jackson Road site)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Giuse Nguyễn Văn Tịnhearly 1976
Came monthly from San Jose to celebrate the first Vietnamese Sunday Masses in Sacramento
- Fr. Giacôbê Nguyễn Văn Vi (founder)1976–1986
Refugee priest who founded the community; died June 4, 1986 before permanent church could be built
- Fr. Giuse Nguyễn Văn Hoan1986–1994 (approx.)
Appointed Administrator of the community by Bishop Quinn on Oct 27, 1986; oversaw construction and consecration of the first Jackson Road church (Nov 5, 1988)
- Fr. Tadeô Maria Nguyễn Ngọc Ban, CMC (CRM)1994–2010
Founded the St. Joseph Education Center in 1995; acquired the Florin Road property in 2000; oversaw the new 1,000-seat church; founding pastor named for one day on Nov 29, 2009; died June 26, 2010 from injuries sustained in a Feb 16, 2009 car accident
- Fr. Philipphê-Minh Trần Bình Khả, CMC (CRM)2009–2015
Quản Nhiệm 1994–2009; appointed Pastor (Chánh Xứ) Nov 30, 2009
- Fr. JIM Ngô Hoàng Khôi, CMC2015–2018
Founded the Hội Cao Niên (Seniors' Association); nurtured six choirs and combined choir; expanded the Education Center
- Fr. AugustinPhó Xứ 2012–2015
Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Phêrô Đinh Tuyến Viễn, CMCPhó Xứ 2015–2018
Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Thomas Vũ Lưu Truyền, CRMPhó Xứ 2018–2021; Pastor (Chánh Xứ) 2018–2022
Pastoral leadership during the building expansion period
- Fr. Louis Vũ Minh Nhiên, CRM (Luy M.)Pastor (Chánh Xứ) 2018–2022
Acquired adjacent 5-acre parcel; launched campus expansion plan bringing total to 16 acres; upgraded Education Center curriculum
- Fr. Phaolô Nguyễn Văn Khoa, CRMPhó Xứ 2021–2024
Parochial Vicar
- Rev. John Eudes Vu Tien Cao, CRMCurrent pastor
Succeeded previous pastors as Chánh Xứ