The diocese of Hải Phòng () is a Roman Catholic diocese in northern Vietnam. The bishop is Vincent Nguyên Văn Ban, since 2022.
The creation of the diocese in its present form was declared 24 November 1960. The earliest forms of Roman Catholic institutions appeared in that territory since 1655, with French and Spanish missionaries until the middle of the 20th century.Asia News Article on Hai Phong, November 2007
The diocese covers an area of 10,000 km2, and is a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Hanoi.
By 2004, the diocese of Hai Phòng had about 113,092 believers (2.4% of the population), 29 priests and 62 parishes.Catholic Hierarchy Directory
Queen of the Rosary Cathedral in Hai Phong has been assigned as the Cathedral of the diocese.GCatholic.org
Many migrant workers from other regions of Vietnam, who work in that busy port city, attend masses in Hai Phong.
In 2008, the Bishop of Hai Phong Diocese Joseph Vu Van Thien took part in World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney, Australia, where he presented a speech at the Homily at the Opening Mass for Vietnamese Youth.The Homily at the Opening Mass for Vietnmese Youth - World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney, Australia, by Bishop Joseph Vu Van Thien, Bishop of Hai Phong Diocese, VietCatholic Site, July 2008
Ordinaries Vicar Apostolic of Eastern Tonking (1678-1924) Vicar apostolicPeriod in officeStatusReference1Bishop François Deydier, M.E.P.November 25, 1678July 1, 1693Died in office2Bishop Raimondo Lezzoli, O.P.October 20, 1696January 18, 17063Bishop Juan de Santa Cruz, O.P.April 3, 1716August 14, 17214Bishop Tommaso Sextri, O.P.August 14, 1721August 8, 17375Bishop Hilario di Jesu Costa, O.A.D.August 8, 1737March 11, 17576Bishop Santiago Hernández, O.P.August 13, 1757February 06, 17777Bishop Manuel Obellar, O.P.January 29, 1778September 07, 17898Bishop Feliciano Alonso, O.P.October 1, 1790February 2, 17999Bishop Ignacio Clemente Delgado Cebrián, O.P.February 2, 1799July 12, 1838Died in office, martyred.10Bishop Jerónimo Hermosilla Aransáez, O.P.August 2, 1839November 1, 186111Bishop Hilarión Alcáraz, O.P.November 1, 18611868Resigned12Bishop Antonio Colomer, O.P.February 11, 1870June 1, 1883Transferred to Northern Tonkin13Bishop José Terrés, O.P.May 29, 1883April 2, 1906Died in office14Bishop Nicasio Arellano, O.P.April 11, 1906April 14, 1919Resigned15Bishop Francisco Ruiz de Azúa Ortiz de Zárate, O.P.April 14, 1919December 03, 1924Remained as Vicar apostolic of Hai Phòng.
Vicar apostolic of Hai Phòng (1924-1960) Vicar apostolicPeriod in officeStatusReference15Bishop Francisco Ruiz de Azúa Ortiz de Zárate, O.P.December 3, 1924May 22, 1929Died in office16Bishop Alejandro García Fontcuberta, O.P.May 31, 1930February 14, 193317Bishop Francisco Gómez de Santiago, O.P.February 18, 1933195218Bishop Joseph Trương Cao ÐạiJanuary 8, 19531960Resigned–Bishop Joseph-Marie-Pierre Khuất Văn TạoMay 07, 1955November 24, 1960Apostolic Administrator
Bishop of Hai Phòng (1960-present) BishopCoat of armsPeriod in officeStatusReference1Bishop Joseph-Marie-Pierre Khuất Văn TạoNovember 24, 1960August 19, 1977Died in Office2Bishop Joseph Marie Nguyễn Tùng CươngJanuary 10, 1979February 10, 19993Bishop Joseph Vũ Văn ThiênNovember 26, 2002November 17, 2018Transferred to Hanoi–Archbishop Joseph Vũ Văn ThiênNovember 17, 2018March 19, 2022Apostolic Administrator4Bishop Vincent Nguyễn Văn BảnMarch 19, 2022–presentCurrent bishop
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Eastern Tonking (1716–1919) Period in officeReference1Bishop Tommaso Sextri, O.P.March 18, 1716 – August 14, 17212Bishop Hilario di Jesu Costa, O.A.D.October 3, 1735 – April 8, 17373Bishop Ignacio Clemente Delgado Cebrián, O.P.February 11, 1794 – February 2, 17994Bishop Domingo Henares de Zafra Cubero, O.P.September 9, 1800 – June 25, 18385Bishop Romualdo Jimeno Ballesteros, O.P.August 2, 1839 – June 20, 18456Bishop Hilarión Alcáraz, O.P.September 5, 1848 – November 1, 18617Bishop Gaspar Fernández, O.P.March 27, 1863 – July 19, 18688Bishop José Terrés, O.P.February 6, 1875 – May 29, 18839Bishop Francisco Ruiz de Azúa Ortiz de Zárate, O.P.June 19, 1917 – April 14, 1919
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Hai Phòng (1932–1933) Period in officeReference–Bishop-elect Francisco Gomez de Santiago, O.P.November 28, 1932 – February 18, 1933
References