The Lovers of the Holy Cross (french: Amantes de la Croix, Vietnamese: '' Dòng Mến Thánh Giá'') is a federation of a number of congregations of diocesan right of religious sisters, founded in 1670 by the first

Vicar Apostolic A vicar (; Latin: ''vicarius'') is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior (compare "vicarious" in the sense of "at second hand"). Linguistically, ''vicar'' is cognate with the English pr ...

Tonkin Tonkin, also spelled ''Tongkin'', ''Tonquin'' or ''Tongking'', is an exonym referring to the northern region of Vietnam. During the 17th and 18th centuries, this term referred to the domain '' Đàng Ngoài'' under Trịnh lords' control, includ ...

and

Cochinchina Cochinchina or Cochin-China (, ; vi, Đàng Trong (17th century - 18th century, Việt Nam (1802-1831), Đại Nam (1831-1862), Nam Kỳ (1862-1945); km, កូសាំងស៊ីន, Kosăngsin; french: Cochinchine; ) is a historical exon ...

, Pierre Lambert de la Motte,

M.E.P. The Society of Foreign Missions of Paris (french: Société des Missions Etrangères de Paris, short M.E.P.) is a Roman Catholic missionary organization. It is not a religious institute, but an organization of secular priests and lay persons ...

According to 2002 statistics, it has about 4,822 members. It is the first female religious congregation to be distinguished by its East Asian characteristics, both contemplative and active, and founded in Vietnam. During its 335 years of existence, the Lovers of the Holy Cross community, have gone through various trials and tribulations: persecutions, disasters, wars, and changes of political regimes. As of 2005, there were 24 autonomous congregations of the Lovers of the Holy Cross Sisters. In addition to their native Vietnam, there is one congregation in the United States, three in Thailand and two in Laos. o

References

External links

Lovers of the Holy Cross Los Angeles - Dòng Mến Thánh Giá Los Angeles

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{{Catholic congregation Christian organizations established in the 17th century Overseas Vietnamese Roman Catholic orders and churches Religious organizations established in the 1670s Catholic female orders and societies Vietnamese-American history 1670 establishments in Vietnam