By Fr Francis Dakun
KUCHING — A group of 27 pilgrims, mostly from the Ladies’ Guild of St Joseph’s Cathedral, Kuching, Sarawak, recently embarked on a five-day pilgrimage to Vietnam, with Our Lady of La Vang as the spiritual focus of our journey.
Although some of us had visited Vietnam and La Vang before, this was not simply another trip. We wanted to deepen our faith, experience the faith of the Vietnamese Church and return home renewed in our commitment to Christ and the Church.
Our pilgrimage began in Da Nang, followed by our journey to Hue. We celebrated Mass at Stella Maris, a retirement home for religious sisters. Their lives of prayer and service reminded us of the beauty of a life faithfully offered to God.
The following day, we journeyed to La Vang, a place deeply associated with the suffering, perseverance and faith of Vietnamese Catholics. We also visited a monastery and encountered religious brothers who shared with us their life and craftsmanship. Their simple witness reminded us that prayer, work and service can all become expressions of faith.
From La Vang, we continued to Quang Tri and then travelled to Hoi An. Along the way, we celebrated Mass at Tra Kieu Church, giving thanks to God for the gift of faith that unites Catholics across different cultures and countries.
On the fourth day, we celebrated Mass at Son Tra Church, followed by a visit to Ba Na Hills. These moments of fellowship and sharing also strengthened the bonds among us as pilgrims.
Throughout the journey, the Eucharist remained at the centre of our pilgrimage. We were reminded that pilgrimage is not merely about visiting holy places or beautiful destinations. It is an invitation to encounter God, to renew our faith and to allow Him to transform our lives.
As we returned to Kuching, we asked ourselves: What are we bringing home from this pilgrimage?
We hope to bring home more than photographs and memories. We bring home a renewed desire to pray, to live our faith more faithfully and to share the joy of the Gospel with our families and parish community.
Our journey to La Vang may have lasted only five days from 13-17 August 2026, but our pilgrimage of faith continues.
May Our Lady of La Vang continue to accompany us, lead us closer to her Son Jesus, and strengthen us to remain faithful witnesses of Christ wherever we are.
Our Lady of La Vang, pray for us.
