Saint Andrew Nguyễn Kim Thông: “Let God’s Will Be Done”
Saint Andrew Nguyễn Kim Thông, respectfully known as Mr. Năm Thuông, was a shining example of steadfast faith and deep love for God. Born in 1790 in Gò Thị parish, Xuân Phương commune, Tuy Phước district, Bình Định province (now part of the Diocese of Qui Nhơn), he was the fourth child in his family, but according to local custom, he was referred to as the fifth and respectfully called Mr. Năm Thuông.
A Life of Faith and Community Service
Mr. Thông was not only a devout layman but also trusted by both Catholics and non-Catholics, who elected him as the village chief and head of the parish community. In this role, he diligently cared for village affairs and the parish. His prayer life was profound, marked by his frequent recitation of the Rosary. He also built a chapel dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. His home served as a safe refuge for Bishop Thể and many other priests during times of persecution.
His family offered many vocations to the Church, with two children consecrating their lives to God: Father Nguyễn Kim Thủ and Sister Anna Nguyễn Thị Nhường of the Mến Thánh Giá Gò Thị Congregation.
Persecution and Steadfastness
His frankness in correcting his nephew named Út, who had a rebellious and dissolute character, led to serious consequences. Out of hatred, the nephew wrote a letter accusing Mr. Thông of harboring priests. Soldiers arrived, searched his home, and imprisoned him along with four other clergy members in the Bình Định prison.
Although imprisoned, due to his friendly relationship with the provincial mandarin, he was not tortured or beaten and was occasionally allowed to visit his family. During these visits, he always advised his children and grandchildren to remain faithful to God: “I am old and weak, and I no longer desire a long life. I am ready to endure imprisonment and death for the Name of Christ. I will definitely not petition for release.”
At the court, when the provincial mandarin advised him to step on the cross discreetly and then go to Confession to escape punishment, he solemnly replied, “No, how can I step on the cross that I venerate?”
Exile and Martyrdom
After three months in prison, he was sentenced to exile in Vĩnh Long. His children planned to use money to reduce the sentence, but he firmly stopped them: “Let God’s Will be done.”
The journey of exile was arduous, burdened by chains and his advanced age and frail health. Upon reaching Bình Thuận, he was fortunate to meet his son, Father Nguyễn Kim Thủ, and received the Sacrament of Reconciliation. On July 15, 1855, just as he arrived in Mỹ Tho, he breathed his last.
He was buried in Cái Nhum. In 1857, Father Nguyễn Kim Thủ requested to have his father’s remains reinterred at Gò Thị church. Currently, the saint’s relics are venerated at the Qui Nhơn Bishop’s Palace.
Mr. Andrew Nguyễn Kim Thông was beatified on May 2, 1909, and canonized by Pope John Paul II on June 19, 1988.
The content about the saint in this post is summarized and paraphrased from the book “Hạnh Các Thánh Tử Đạo Việt Nam” - Lives of the Vietnamese Martyrs (Vietnamese Bishops’ Conference, edited by Bishop Peter Nguyễn Văn Khảm, Tôn Giáo Publishing House, 2018). This post is not a verbatim copy but a re‑presentation based on the original source.