Preface

Abstract

WORD INTO THE LAND is the title of the journal of the Catholic Institute of Vietnam. The name expresses the meaning that the Gospel of God has been sown into the land of Vietnam for nearly 500 years, and that Gospel has permeated, blossomed, and stirred up a new vitality for the country.

With this meaning, the journal Word into the Land does not merely aim at cultural integration, as is often emphasized today, but also seeks to show how the seed of the Christian faith has gradually grown in a new environment. Through diverse works of evangelization, it has enriched the life of believers and, throughout history, has contributed to the rhythm of society and the cultural heritage of Vietnam.

The journal begins with the pastoral letter The Word and the Sacraments of Bishop John Đỗ Văn Ngân addressed to the priests and religious of the Diocese of Xuân Lộc in the “Shepherd’s Word” section of October 2023, reprinted here because of its meaning for the New Evangelization. Throughout history, Vietnamese Christians have listened to God’s Word and been nourished by the sacraments. In other words, the Word of God has been lived out in the faith experience of Vietnamese believers.

Fr. Joseph Cao Gia An, SJ, clarifies for us the concepts of Word and Land in the Old Testament biblical culture in his article Word into the Land. Following this, Fr. Paul Ngô Đình Sĩ revisits the two complementary creation accounts as prefigurations announcing God’s intention and the experience of His hands in the work of creation, which goes hand in hand with salvation, in his article The Word and the Hands of God.

Fr. Fx. Nguyễn Tiến Dưng, AA, in The Relationship between Faith and Cultures, synthesizes the perspectives of Vatican II and post-conciliar texts concerning cultures and other religions, to help the faithful choose a path aligned with the guidance of Mother Church.

Fr. Joseph Tân Nguyễn, OFM, offers a philosophical reflection on culture and religion in The Relationship between Culture and Religion. On the same issue, Prof. Nguyễn Nghị provides a concrete historical perspective in The Inculturation of Christianity in Vietnam, concluding with the hope of building and advancing toward a new culture that always lies ahead. Fr. Joseph Nguyễn Trọng Viễn, OP, a professor of philosophy, presents a new vision for the Vietnamese Church in the process of inculturation in his article The Challenges of the Church in Vietnam from a Cultural Perspective.

The following series of articles resonates with contemporary culture: these are presentations from the symposium Artificial Intelligence (AI): Opportunities and Challenges for Vietnamese Christians Today, co-organized by the Catholic Institute of Vietnam and the Catholic University of the West, France (UCO), held on March 1–2, 2024, at the Catholic Institute of Vietnam. To share this pressing issue of our age, the journal Word into the Land republishes all the conference papers with the authors’ consent, including contributions from Prof. Dominique Vermersch, Prof. Thomas Hoàng Anh Ngọc, Prof. Fr. Olivier Bonnewijn, Prof. Fr. Jean-Baptiste Edart, Prof. Fr. J.B. Lê Đình Phương, and Prof. Fr. Joseph Đỗ Mạnh Thịnh. The French presentations are printed in full with translations by Prof. Fr. Paul Ngô Đình Sĩ. In addition, as in every conference, there is a concluding synthesis written by Prof. Fr. Paul Ngô Đình Sĩ and the secretary of the Research Committee of the Catholic Institute of Vietnam. Finally, the journal includes a book review section curated by Terexa Minh Anh.

I am delighted and honored to present to all, especially the professors, lecturers, and students of the Catholic Institute, the first issue of the journal Word into the Land of the Catholic Institute of Vietnam, produced under the responsibility of the Research Committee, which includes: Fr. Paul Ngô Đình Sĩ (Chair), Fr. Fx. Nguyễn Tiến Dưng, AA, Fr. Fx. Nguyễn Hai Tính, SJ, Fr. Joseph Đỗ Mạnh Thịnh (Xuân Lộc Diocese), Sr. Maria Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Dung, ACI, and student Terexa Hoàng Nguyễn Minh Anh (Secretary).

May the first issue of WORD INTO THE LAND inspire enthusiasm within the Catholic Institute, encouraging everyone to reflect together and to open promising new paths for the Institute.

Bishop Joseph Đinh Đức Đạo
President, Catholic Institute of Vietnam