Pontifical Institute of St. Pius X in Da Lat demolished and turned into a park

(Dec.01,2009): In southern Vietnam, authorities in Da Lat are knocking down the Pontifical Institute of St. Pius X to make a cultural and urban park. This is being done despite the repeated requests made by the bishops of the country for its return for use as a seminary, in what was a property of the Vatican's representative in Vietnam. Some 13 bishops and 306 priests currently operating in the country graduated from this seminary. The Institute opened its doors to its first class September 13, 1958. It was built by Jesuit Father Ferdinand Lacretelle, who arrived in Saigon in 1957, at the request of the Vietnamese bishops and the Vatican entrusted it to the Society of Jesus. It was managed by religious from France, Italy, Spain and Canada. Presently the Vietnamese Church has found itself with a shortage of priests to send to the parishes. So the bishops have asked the government for the return of the Pontifical Institute for the chance to give a high quality formation to priests. However, local authorities are knocking down the Institute.
Bishop Nguyen Van Nhon of Da Lat, who is president of the Episcopal Conference said he has once again made a plea for the need of the Church.
Following the instructions of the leaders of the Episcopal Conference and the three archbishops of Hanoi, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City, he said - we will continue to submit to the Vietnamese Prime Minister the really pressing aspirations of the Catholic Church in Vietnam