Migration has always been an issue of interest to many researchers in the world as well as in the country, especially in today’s era. In recent years, with the flow of migration from rural areas to large cities, especially in the capital Hanoi, it shows that parishes have to welcome a large number of Catholic migrants to participate in activities. However, how to grasp the number of Catholic migrants attending Mass and participating in parish activities is a difficult problem for parish priests or parish administrators in parishes in Hanoi. This article aims to provide some more information about Catholic migrants, and to propose some initiatives and contributions to help parish priests and parish administrators in their pastoral care for Catholic migrants.

1. Some studies on domestic and international migration

First, we need to review some studies on migration that show the role of religion for migrants. Peter Hansen’s research published in 2009 gives us a look at the history of Catholicism in Vietnam through the article: ” Bac Di Cu: Catholic Refugees from the North of Vietnam, and Their Role in the Southern Republic, 1954- 1959 “. The research shows that the 1954 event was a historic event for the North and Central regions of Vietnam and their role for the Catholic community in South Vietnam. The research also shows the role of priests in calling on Catholic believers in their parishes to migrate to the South after the Geneva Agreement in 1954 [2] .

In addition, the research of JH Wright & MV. Măcelaru (2018) has shown that in the Old Testament there is a thread running through God’s concern for ” strangers “, ” foreigners ” or migrants. The biblical text shows that God intervenes in the migration of peoples, especially for the people of Israel, God brings them out of Egypt, to the land of Canaan. And in order to reach the land of Canaan – the land flowing with milk and honey, it took them 40 years to reach the land of God’s promise (Ex 16, 1-35). Migration is a part of the history of the Old Testament mentioned in the Old Testament passages in the story when Abraham said to the children of the Hittites: “I am a stranger and a stranger among you” (Gen 23,4). Moses names his son “ foreigner ” in Hebrew, thus indicating his status as (refugee, permittee) in the foreign land of Midian (Ex 2:22). God tells the Israelites: “The land of Canaan is yours and they are “foreigners” and  “  renters” [3] .

Cox’s research also shows that religion plays an important role in the resettlement process, helping them to withstand the shocks of their new destination. Migrants need to find people of the same religion to share their beliefs and problems. Religious leaders act as mentors, and religious organizations act as sources of material support; religious centers are suitable places to distribute social welfare [4] . Through participation in religious activities and associational activities of the Catholic community, Catholic migrants are more easily integrated [5] ; churches become channels of information to establish relationships of trust [6] ; social cohesion is promoted through services and charitable activities for migrants and vulnerable groups  [7] .

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a migrant is defined as “any person who is moving or has moved across an international border or within a State away from his or her usual place of residence [8] . In Vietnam, migration is understood as “a change of place of residence of a person, from one territorial unit to another within a certain period of time” [9] .

The research results of author Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh (2024) with the topic:  “Integration into the religious community in Hanoi of Catholic migrants”  show that Catholic migrants within 5 years and over 5 years when arriving at a new place of residence have the following rate of submitting letters of introduction to local parish priests:

TABLE: SUBMITTING THE IMMIGRATION INTRODUCTION FORM TO THE PARISH PRIEST OF THE MIGRANT CATHOLIC

Submit a letter of introduction from the home parish when attending activities at the local parish*		Migrate within 5 years		Migration over 5 years
		Frequency (N=185)	Rate (%)	Frequency (N=148)	Rate (%)
	Have	23	12.4	31	20.9
	Are not	150	81.1	113	76.4
	Don’t know	12	6.5	4	2.7

Note: *p<0.05 .  Source: Calculated from survey data in Hanoi of Nafosted project 504.01-2019.01.  (Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh, 2024)

According to the results of the table above, we see a difference between migrants over 5 years and migrants within 5 years. The rate of Catholic migrants (CGDC) within 5 years and over 5 years who did not submit a letter of introduction to the parish priest when arriving at the new place of residence was 81.1% and 76.4%, respectively. Those who migrated over 5 years had a higher rate of submitting a letter of introduction when arriving at the new place of residence than those who migrated within 5 years at 8.5%. In general, both CGDC within 5 years and over 5 years had a low rate of submitting a letter of introduction to the parish priest [10] . Therefore, it is difficult for parish priests or parish administrators to know the number of parishioners – Catholics who migrated from provinces to their parish to practice their religion, so it is not easy to have a specific plan and program to help them integrate into the activities of the parish.

2. Proposals on integration

According to the Migrant Pastoral Guidelines (2017) for priests on pastoral care for migrants, it is stated that:  “The parish priest needs to pay attention to the migrants in his parish and call on the faithful in the parish to collaborate in caring for the migrant faithful so that no one is left behind because they do not belong to the parish ” [11] . We also know that some priests have made efforts to call on migrant Catholics to register for parish activities and have initiated the establishment of associations specifically for migrants. However, the reality shows that only a very small number of migrant Catholics participate in associations that have not attracted a large number of migrants to participate. They still only go to church to attend Sunday Mass as a duty and then leave. Some even consider the parish they come to as a  “temporary place” or “a place to stay”;  living with the mentality that they are still attached to their faith in their hometown parish and therefore, they become  “anonymous” people,  only going to mass to fulfill their religious faith and have a place for their children to go to mass and learn catechism [12] .

Therefore, it is necessary to help migrant Catholics realize that the parish where they come is like home, so that they can participate in the parish with joy and belonging. This requires the attention of the parish priest, the parish pastoral council and the heads of associations to visit migrant Catholic families and constantly remind, invite and even attract them to participate in different associations in the parish; to create conditions for them to have the opportunity to contribute and enrich the associations in the parish where they come. It is when they participate in associations that they will receive more attention and support both spiritually and at work, as the research of author Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh (2024) clearly shows this:

Chart: Benefits received from joining clubs/groups (%)

Source: Calculation from survey data in Hanoi of Nafosted project 504.01-2019.01
(Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh, 2024)

The results of the chart above show that the benefits that Catholic migrants receive when participating in Catholic associations/groups are mainly strengthened religious beliefs and more joy and confidence in life, accounting for 71.5% and 70.5% respectively. Next, when participating in associations/groups, they have the opportunity to serve the community and are shared and comforted when facing difficulties, accounting for 42.5% and 41.5% respectively. In addition, when participating in Catholic associations/groups, they are enhanced in practicing rituals (39.0%) and have new social relationships (33.1%). In addition, they also receive job-related referrals (12.1%) and receive material and financial support when facing difficulties (9.7%). Thus, when participating in different associations/groups, Catholic migrants receive many benefits, from those that help strengthen their religious faith and practice rituals to benefits related to joy, happiness in life and benefits related to work… Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention and encourage Catholic migrants to participate in Catholic associations to gain benefits for their spiritual life as well as to have new social relationships to help them advance in life.

It can be said that when arriving at a new place, Catholic migrants are still bewildered and lost in the city and need a lot of attention from friends, relatives and especially people of the same religion, who are local Catholics or Catholic migrants who came before them. Especially when Catholic migrants attend Mass or religious activities at a parish where they arrive, they need the attention and encouragement of the parish priest or pastor, the pastoral council, the heads of associations and even the lay people living in the parish. In addition, there should be announcements from the parish to gather migrants, let them register to participate in parish activities, in associations and thanks to that they can grow more spiritually. Moreover, parish representatives should also visit each family or individual Catholic migrants in difficult circumstances, to visit and make connections to help them with jobs, housing, transportation or other needs; so that they can overcome the initial difficulties and gradually integrate into the new environment. On the part of migrants, they need to proactively ask the parish priest or parish priest for permission to participate in parish activities, and through that, the parish priest or parish priest also knows them and has interest, inquiries, and encouragement. More specifically, when they have stabilized their residence and employment, they should ask to join a specific association in the parish to receive prayers, support, and assistance from members of that association.

In short, Catholic parishes in Hanoi, which have a large number of Catholic migrants, need to arouse missionary awareness in the migrant community and also respond to the call of the Vietnamese Bishops’ Council in its   latest pastoral letter for 2025: ” Parishes with many brothers and sisters leaving their homeland need to carefully prepare them with faith, hope, love, and missionary enthusiasm in the environment they come to. Parishes with many migrants need to have specific support to help them integrate and live the missionary spirit.”