Migrant Missionary Discipleship: Opportunities and Challenges for Catholic Vietnamese Migrants in Asia

Migrant Missionary Discipleship:
Opportunities and Challenges for Catholic Vietnamese Migrants in Asia
(Pre-Print)

 Anthony Le Duc
Executive Director, Asian Research Center for Religion and Social Communication
St John’s University, Thailand
Research Fellow
Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice,
University of the Western Cape, South Africa
leduc.anthony@asianresearchcenter.org

ORCID: 0000-0002-5547-7127

Abstract

 Discussions on migration within the church’s evangelizing mission often focus on mission “to” or “among” migrants, positioning them primarily as recipients of pastoral care. While acknowledging the significance of this perspective, this paper highlights an equally vital dimension—mission “by” migrants, or migrant missionary discipleship. It examines the role of Vietnamese migrants in Asia as missionary disciples within the Catholic church. Significant numbers of Vietnamese migrants, both documented and undocumented, reside in countries such as Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and Thailand, many coming from devout Catholic backgrounds. While pastoral care for these migrants has been established to various degrees, migration itself has historically contributed to the church’s growth and continues to do so. Given the church’s relatively small presence in Asia and its ongoing challenges—including secularization and demographic shifts—this study explores the potential of Vietnamese migrants to contribute to the church’s evangelizing mission. Specifically, it investigates: (1) the relationship between missionary discipleship and migration, (2) the identity of Vietnamese migrants as missionary disciples in Asia, (3) the opportunities and challenges they face, and (4) strategies to foster their missionary role. Employing a qualitative methodology, this study draws on Catholic church teachings, academic literature on Vietnamese Catholic migrants, and interviews with Vietnamese migrant pastoral agents. The analysis is further enriched by the author’s 18 years of pastoral experience in Vietnamese migrant ministry in Thailand and extensive interactions with Vietnamese migrant workers and pastoral agents across Asia. Through this exploration, the paper offers insights into how Vietnamese migrants and, by extension, other migrant groups can serve as agents of evangelization and catalysts for ecclesial growth in the region.