On April 21, 2026, Fr. Reynaldo V. Sotelo Jr., OCD, Provincial Superior of the Philippine Province, presided over the rite of blessing of the Convent of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face in the Diocese of Xuân Lộc, making it the second monastery of Discalced Carmelite friars in Vietnam.
As the formal liturgy concluded, Rev. Fr. Joseph Duong Duc Nghia, OCD, the local superior, speaking on behalf of the community, expressed a heartfelt welcome to all who had journeyed with them through the months of dust and construction. The celebratory banquet that followed was more than a meal; it was an extension of the Eucharist – a moment of fraternal joy and shared history. We remain eternally grateful to everyone who helped lay the stones of this new home, ensuring that for generations to come, the Lord indeed has a dwelling among His people.
