Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix
Encyclopedia
The Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix (abbreviated CMC; ) is a religious order
within the Roman Catholic Church. The order is dominated by men of Vietnam
ese extraction. The unofficial title Co-Redemptrix
in its name refers to the Blessed Virgin Mary
. The Congregation maintains a monastery in Carthage, Missouri
, which hosts an annual Marian Days
pilgrimage, the largest Roman Catholic festival in the United States
. Of the order's 228 members, about 120 reside in Carthage.
.
Before 1975, the congregation was relatively small in Vietnam, overshadowed by the Dominican
, Franciscan
, Jesuit
, and Redemptorist
orders, among others. In the United States, however, virtually all Vietnamese Roman Catholics are aware of the Congregation. Just before the Fall of Saigon
in 1975, 185 clergy – about half of the Congregation – left Vietnam as boat people
and arrived in the United States at Fort Chaffee
. Cardinal Bernard Francis Law, then Bishop of Springfield–Cape Girardeau
, sponsored the priests and brothers, inviting them to buy a vacant Oblates of Mary Immaculate
seminary, Our Lady of the Ozarks College in Carthage, for $
1 for use as their U.S. monastery and shrine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
.
In 1978, the Congregation organized the inaugural Marian Days at the shrine. Around 1,500 Vietnamese Catholics from the Carthage area participated.
Controversial Archbishop Pierre Martin Ngô Đình Thục died at the monastery in 1984.
Religious order
A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder's religious practice. The order is composed of initiates and, in some...
within the Roman Catholic Church. The order is dominated by men of Vietnam
Vietnamese people
The Vietnamese people are an ethnic group originating from present-day northern Vietnam and southern China. They are the majority ethnic group of Vietnam, comprising 86% of the population as of the 1999 census, and are officially known as Kinh to distinguish them from other ethnic groups in Vietnam...
ese extraction. The unofficial title Co-Redemptrix
Co-Redemptrix
Co-Redemptrix, a title of Mary, mother of Jesus, refers to her role in the Redemption process.The concept of Co-redemptrix refers to an indirect or unequal but important participation by the Blessed Virgin Mary in redemption, notably: that she gave free consent to give life to the Redeemer, to...
in its name refers to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Blessed Virgin Mary (Roman Catholic)
Roman Catholic veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary is based on Holy Scripture: In the fullness of time, God sent his son, born of a virgin. The mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God through Mary thus signifies her honour as Mother of God...
. The Congregation maintains a monastery in Carthage, Missouri
Carthage, Missouri
Carthage is a city in Jasper County, Missouri, United States. The population was 14,378 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Jasper County and is nicknamed "America's Maple Leaf City."...
, which hosts an annual Marian Days
Marian Days
The Marian Days is the main festival and pilgrimage for Vietnamese American Roman Catholics. The annual event in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary has taken place the first weekend in August since 1978 on the campus of the Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix in Carthage, Missouri...
pilgrimage, the largest Roman Catholic festival in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Of the order's 228 members, about 120 reside in Carthage.
History
The Congregation was founded in 1953 by the Most Rev. Dominic Maria Trần Đình Thủ, CMC, in VietnamVietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
.
Before 1975, the congregation was relatively small in Vietnam, overshadowed by the Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
, Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
, Jesuit
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, and Redemptorist
Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer is a Roman Catholic missionary Congregation founded by Saint Alphonsus Liguori at Scala, near Amalfi, Italy for the purpose of labouring among the neglected country people in the neighbourhood of Naples.Members of the Congregation, priests and brothers,...
orders, among others. In the United States, however, virtually all Vietnamese Roman Catholics are aware of the Congregation. Just before the Fall of Saigon
Fall of Saigon
The Fall of Saigon was the capture of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, by the People's Army of Vietnam and the National Liberation Front on April 30, 1975...
in 1975, 185 clergy – about half of the Congregation – left Vietnam as boat people
Boat people
Boat people is a term that usually refers to refugees, illegal immigrants or asylum seekers who emigrate in numbers in boats that are sometimes old and crudely made...
and arrived in the United States at Fort Chaffee
Fort Chaffee
Fort Chaffee Maneuver Training Center is in the northwest Arkansas region adjacent to the city of Fort Smith, located one mile southeast of Fort Smith Regional Airport. The Arkansas River flows eastward along the northern border of the post. Interstate 40 is five miles to the north on the...
. Cardinal Bernard Francis Law, then Bishop of Springfield–Cape Girardeau
Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau is a Roman Catholic diocese in Missouri. It was founded on August 24, 1956. The current bishop is the Most Reverend James Vann Johnston, Jr., appointed January 24, 2008, and installed March 31, 2008....
, sponsored the priests and brothers, inviting them to buy a vacant Oblates of Mary Immaculate
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate is a missionary religious congregation in the Catholic Church. It was founded on January 25, 1816 by Saint Eugene de Mazenod, a French priest born in Aix-en-Provence in the south of France on August 1, 1782. The congregation was given recognition by Pope...
seminary, Our Lady of the Ozarks College in Carthage, for $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
1 for use as their U.S. monastery and shrine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Immaculate Heart of Mary
The Immaculate Heart of Mary originally The Sacred Heart of Mary is a devotional name used to refer to the interior life of Mary, her joys and sorrows, her virtues and hidden perfections, and, above all, her virginal love for God, her maternal love for her Son, Jesus, and her compassionate love for...
.
In 1978, the Congregation organized the inaugural Marian Days at the shrine. Around 1,500 Vietnamese Catholics from the Carthage area participated.
Controversial Archbishop Pierre Martin Ngô Đình Thục died at the monastery in 1984.