Last May, 2018, Father Minh invited me to join them in Can Tho for their annual celebration of Our Lady of Fatima. In this event, well over a thousand people converged on the grounds at Rach Suc Mission Church on Sunday, May 13th for a full day where friends and family from all around gather for prayer and worship; however, this year they also celebrated another event which was very near and dear to the heart of the community and that was that Vicar Father Francis Xavier’s (Đinh Trọng Tự) celebrated the fiftieth year of his priesthood and his well deserved retirement. For this event, his family from miles away, even as far as the state of Virginia, joined in this prayerful celebration.
Amidst the music, dancing and singing there hung somewhat of a sad cloud – knowing that the one who personified the clearest image of the genuine love of Jesus Christ that they have ever known was leaving them. The one who, in his poverty, faithfully labored among them for twenty-four years was retiring.
Not only were they losing Father Francis to retirement but Father Michael Minh, who labored along his side for the entire twenty-four years, was to move to another parish approximately an hour south at Trà Ếch (Frog) Church.
To express their love and admiration for Father Francis Tu Trong Dinh, Father Michael Minh and the parishioners of Rach Suc Parish gathered to write his biography in celebration of his 50th Anniversary of Priesthood. It is difficult, even after reading this biography, to fully express the impact of such a holy soul; his accomplishments borne out of his complete dedication to Christ and the Church has inspired many around the world.
Biography of Father Francis Tu Trong Dinh
Father Tu was born on 11/17/1939 in Hai Duong Province of North Vietnam. His parents both passed away within a year when he was less than one year old. He has one brother and one sister and he is the youngest. He was accepted into Dap Khe Minor Seminary in 1951 when he was 12 years old ….
In 1954 when the North and the South split, he followed his brothers in the Seminary to the South and lived in Saigon. He went to different Seminaries: 8th grade at Bac Ninh Seminary; 10th grade at Bui Chu Seminary, and 12th grade at Phat Diem Seminary in Saigon.
He joined an army for two years, from 1962 to 1964, and he was stationed in Phan Thiet. He came back to Saigon Seminary in 1964 to finish 4 years in Theology. Was ordained priesthood on 5/14/1968 at Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon by Archbishop Paul Binh Van Nguyen. He taught as a professor at A Thanh Quy Seminary in Can Tho. He was a leader of an Evangelism group and he was the Principal of Dong Tien High School in Can Tho from 1969-1972
He was appointed Catholic Chaplain 1972-1975. He was captured by the communist government in 1975 and was held prisoner in North Vietnam for 13 years for being a Catholic Chaplain. He received death threats multiple times for doing good deeds as a prisoner. He had 2/3 of his stomach removed while in prison under very poor conditions but survived. Was released in 1988 but had no right to work and was sent to a retirement home for priests in Can Tho.
He was finally allowed to reestablish citizenship to work in 1994 after six years of being confined. Since then, he was assigned to Rach Suc village and has been living and laboring with that community for a total of twenty-four years. As most of them were unskilled, uneducated, and very poor farmers, Father Francis determined to work to improve the living conditions for the people there.
Father Francis began visiting people whether he knew them or not, far and near, asking them to help Rach Suc. He was able to make changes to Rach Suc little by little from the help of benefactors. First he had a large concrete yard for people to dry grain and crops after harvesting. Built concrete bridges over the canal to replace the skinny bamboo stick bridges and made roads accessible for both bicycles and motorcycles.
Later he set up small classrooms for children to come and study and learn. He established a clinic for people to come to get some common medicine when needed. Invited doctors to volunteer once a month to help everyone in need. He organized summer camps to have hundreds of children come to learn and be safe while parents were busy working. He made requests to the local government and the authorities to provide aid for young people to go for higher education.
Father Francis built a Church to have a decent place for people to worship God. Has had thousands of pilgrims near and far come to Rach Suc every year in the month of May to honor and pray to Mary. Baptized thousands of people and constantly worked to bring more and more people back to the Church. The number of those who have converted to Catholicism has grown from about 50 to thousands, and is still growing.
At the beginning of Father Francis’ commitment, labors and deep faith in the power of God, Rach Suc went from a small isolated and almost unknown village to a very well-known haven of rest for thousands. People now call it, “Mary of Rach Suc Church”. Also attributed to the work of Father Francis and Father Minh are the satellite churches near by: An Binh Parish and recently established is the new Ca Lang Missionary Church.
He is very special in his own ways:
He Trusts God completely and has always said that God knows better than we do. Devoted to Mary, his Heavenly Mother. Very humble, very compassionate, and a very good listener. Always prioritizes helping others before helping himself. Everyone can approach him for anything at anytime as he is very friendly and helpful. Willing to help people in need, no matter what. Always cheerful and optimistic, especially towards others. Sacrifices for others and lives a very simple life. Obeys happily in all situations and never complains. Gets along in harmony with people at all levels. Treats others with love, respect, and affection and is loved by everyone, young and old. He always helps people out with all the effort he can muster. Finds good care for people, especially the elderly and the poor. Focuses on helping the young to have a good future by creating a way for them to obtain an education. Believes knowledge is the key to success and key to leading a good life.
This is written by Father Michael Khac Minh Nguyen and the parishoners of Rach Suc Parish for Father Francis Tu Trong Dinh in celebration of his 50th Anniversary of Priesthood: May 14, 1968 – May 14, 2018.