Faith Across the Waters: The Catholic Church and Asian-Pacific Islanders
May is National Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month—a time to honor the vibrant histories, cultures, and contributions of communities that trace their roots to East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and the Pacific Islands. But among the many narratives that often go underappreciated during this month is the deep and enduring connection between Asian-Pacific Islander (API) communities and the Catholic Church, both in the United States and globally.
📜 A History Rooted in Mission and Martyrdom
The relationship between the Catholic Church and Asian-Pacific cultures dates back centuries, often through missionary work—some of it heroic, some tragic, and all of it complex.
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In the Philippines, Catholicism arrived with Spanish colonization in the 16th century. Today, the country is the third-largest Catholic nation in the world, with over 80% of its population identifying as Catholic.
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In Vietnam, the Church endured waves of persecution during the Nguyen dynasty, leading to the martyrdom of 117 saints canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1988.
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In Korea, Catholicism began as an indigenous lay movement in the late 18th century—rare in Church history. It flourished underground before being met with brutal suppression. Over 10,000 Korean Catholics were martyred.
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In Japan, St. Francis Xavier arrived in 1549, but the Church was later banned. Hidden Christians (“Kakure Kirishitan”) maintained their faith in secret for over 200 years.
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In the Pacific Islands, missionaries arrived in waves, with French Marists and other religious orders establishing Catholic footholds in Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji during the 19th century.
These stories are not just about conversion—they're about resilience, inculturation, and local communities embracing the Gospel through their own languages, customs, and suffering.
In the United States: Immigrant Faith, American Story
Asian and Pacific Islander Catholics began arriving in greater numbers in the 19th and 20th centuries, often through immigration tied to labor, education, war, or political asylum.
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Filipino Catholics became a growing presence, especially in California, Hawaii, and the Northeast, with early arrivals working in agriculture and healthcare. Today, Filipinos are the largest Asian Catholic group in the U.S.
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Vietnamese Catholics, many of them refugees after the fall of Saigon in 1975, brought a strong, deeply Marian spirituality. Parishes like Our Lady of La Vang in California and Texas are cultural and religious hubs.
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Korean Catholics, often highly educated and urban-based, have established vibrant communities with their own parishes and youth ministries.
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Pacific Islander Catholics from Guam, Tonga, and Samoa maintain strong devotional practices and cultural pageantry—especially during Holy Week, Marian feasts, and processions.
Today, there are more than 3 million Asian-Pacific Islander Catholics in the United States, with over 800 parishes celebrating Mass in API languages.
🎎 Customs and Devotions
API Catholic communities bring a rich blend of cultural and liturgical practices:
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Marian devotions are central. Filipinos honor Our Lady of Peñafrancia and Our Lady of Antipolo, while Vietnamese Catholics venerate Our Lady of La Vang.
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Ancestral remembrance is often woven into Catholic rituals, blending traditional rites with All Souls’ Day liturgies.
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Cultural festivals like Simbang Gabi (Philippines), Tet Mass (Vietnam), and Chu Seok (Korea) integrate music, dance, and food with Eucharistic celebration.
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Pacific Islander Catholics use chants, conch shells, and traditional garb in liturgy, blending reverence with celebration.
⚖️ Challenges and Representation
Despite their numbers and vibrant faith lives, API Catholics still face barriers:
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Underrepresentation in Church leadership: Few bishops, theologians, or diocesan leaders are of Asian-Pacific descent. While the appointment of bishops like Bishop Oscar Solis (first Filipino-American bishop) and Bishop Thanh Thai Nguyen is encouraging, much remains to be done.
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Cultural invisibility: API Catholics are often lumped into broader immigrant categories or viewed through an overly “foreign” lens, despite being deeply integrated in American life.
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Generational divide: Many younger API Catholics navigate tension between traditional religious expectations and secular American culture, often leading to drift or disconnection from the Church.
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Anti-Asian racism: Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, many API Catholics have faced discrimination, violence, or exclusion—even in Catholic spaces.
🌱 Signs of Hope and Renewal
In recent years, the Church has made important strides:
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The USCCB’s Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs supports pastoral care and advocacy for these communities.
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National gatherings like “Encountering Christ in Harmony”, a pastoral response released in 2018, have highlighted the Church’s commitment to supporting API vocations, ministries, and justice.
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Seminaries, universities, and lay movements like FIAT, Korean Catholic Young Adults, and Samoan Catholic Youth Congress are building new bridges.
✝️ The Church Needs the API Community—and Vice Versa
Asian-Pacific Islander Catholics are not a footnote in Church history. They are martyrs, missionaries, theologians, parents, artists, and priests. They are keepers of memory and makers of new traditions. Their expressions of Catholicism—deeply devout, community-based, and joyfully celebratory—offer something vital to the wider Church.
As we celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, let’s not treat these communities as “guests” in the pews. They are the Church. They have been for centuries. And their voice—especially now—is a prophetic one.
Suggested Call to Action:
Support an API Catholic parish, learn about a Marian devotion like Our Lady of La Vang, or attend an AAPI celebration in your local diocese this month. Better yet—listen to their stories. You’ll hear the Gospel in a new accent, but the same Spirit.
🕊️ Prominent API Catholic Parishes in the U.S.
1. Holy Family Catholic Church – Artesia, California
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Community: Predominantly Filipino, with Masses also in Spanish, Tagalog, Portuguese, and Mandarin.
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Highlight: Known for its dynamic Filipino ministry and multicultural outreach.
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Website: holyfamilyartesia.orgWikipedia
2. St. Finbar Catholic Church – Burbank, California
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Community: Offers Vietnamese-language Masses and has a history of serving Vietnamese immigrants since 1975.
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Highlight: Recognized for its adaptability to a multiethnic congregation.
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Website: stfinbarburbank.orgWikipedia
3. St. John the Baptist Catholic Church – Honolulu, Hawaii
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Community: Serves Native Hawaiian, Filipino, Samoan, and Micronesian populations.
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Highlight: One of the oldest parishes in Hawaii, reflecting the islands' diverse Catholic heritage.
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Website: sjbkalihi.org
4. Our Lady of La Vang Mission – Chantilly, Virginia
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Community: Vietnamese Catholic faithful.
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Highlight: Hosts traditional Vietnamese liturgies and cultural celebrations.
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Website: ourladyoflavang.org
5. St. Andrew Kim Korean Catholic Church – Olney, Maryland
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Community: Korean-American Catholics.
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Highlight: Offers services in Korean and engages in cultural preservation through faith.
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Website: standrewkim.orgDiocese of Raleigh
6. Sacred Heart Knanaya Catholic Church – Maywood, Illinois
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Community: Knanaya Catholics from the Syro-Malabar Rite, primarily of Indian descent.
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Highlight: First Knanaya Catholic Church established outside India, serving the Midwest.
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Website: shkcparish.us
🌐 Additional Resources
For more information on API Catholic communities and ministries:
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USCCB Asian and Pacific Island Affairs: usccb.org/committees/asian-and-pacific-island-affairsUSCCB
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Map of API Catholic Parishes: usccb.org/resources/6-api-native-hawaiian-catholics-parishes-mapUSCCB
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Asian and Pacific Island Ministry Offices: usccb.org/committees/asianpacific-islander/asian-and-pacific-island-ministry-officesUSCCB
