The rich history of our congregation
In the district of Vietnam
In 1969, 3 Vietnamese young people came into contact with our Congregation in Belgium and became Sisters of Mary of Ingelmunster. One of them, Sister Anna Thuy, visited her native country after 29 years of residence in Belgium and discovered the needs and living conditions of young people in present-day Vietnam.
In the 1999 and 2003 general chapters, permission was given to establish a community in Vietnam to help young people find study opportunities and provide an opportunity for seeking young women in finding their vocation.
Through remote contacts with the local clergy, regular visits and an indigenous congregation in Vietnam, the flame is kept awake.
In 2007, two young people were admitted to the pre-novitiate.
In the following years, the group of ‘Sisters of Mary’ continued to grow and build their own apostolate works such as two kindergartens and a consultation place for oriental medicine, with a special focus on the weak and poorest.
In 2022, the request to incorporate and integrate the “Sisters of Mary” from Vietnam into the congregation of the “Sisters of Mary of Ingelmunster” was unanimously accepted by the general chapter.
Sister Maria Oanh
Sr Maria Nguyen Thi Tuong Oanh (Sr Maria Oanh for short), born in South Vietnam, came to Germany as a child with her family as a boat refugee in the early 1980s, where she was rescued and warmly welcomed .
After completing her secondary education (Abitur) at St. Anna Gymnasium in Wuppertal, Germany, she entered our congregation in 1994 and professed her vows in 1997. Following her theological studies at KU Leuven, she taught religion at the VTI in Tielt, while also contributing to the founding of the community in Vietnam and pursuing her doctoral studies.
After earning her PhD in 2014, she returned permanently to Vietnam, where she serves as a liaison and guest professor, helping to build and promote collaboration between the state university and KU Leuven.
In addition, she teaches theology at the Catholic Institute in Saigon and the Major Seminary in Dalat.Daarnaast geeft ze ook theologische lessen aan het Katholiek Instituut in Saigon en het Grootseminarie in Dalat.
Since 2022, she has also served as the delegate for the general leadership of the sister communities in Vietnam.