Saint Joseph Nguyen Dinh Nghi (1793 - 1840) - Vietnamese Martyr Saint

Saint Joseph Nguyen Dinh Nghi, also called Joseph Kim, was born in 1793 in Ha Hoi village, Thuong Phuc district, Thuong Tin prefecture, Hanoi province. After being ordained a priest, he changed his name to Joseph Nghi.

In his childhood, young Nghi lived in the church with Father Liem, the parish priest of Ke Voi. After finishing his Latin studies and working as a teaching assistant, Nghi returned to help Father Liem. He was ordained a priest at the young age of 30.

After his ordination, Father Nghi was assigned to help at Son Mieng parish for a year, then helped Father Hanh at Ke Bac parish for 4 years, before going to assist Father Khoan at Phuc Nhac parish. Not long after, his superiors appointed Father Nghi as the parish priest of Da Phan. Father Nghi took care of this parish for 10 years, after which he was transferred to be the parish priest of Ke Bang for 2-3 years until his arrest.

Father Nghi had a solemn personality and virtuous character. He skillfully advised those hard-hearted to repent and confess.

On the morning of April 29, 1840, the Governor Trinh Quang Khanh and the Thien Bon prefect brought around 1000 soldiers to surround Ke Bang village to arrest Fathers Nghi, Ngan and Thinh. On April 30, 1840, they arrested Fathers Nghi and Ngan. On the morning of May 1, 1840, they arrested Father Thinh.

When demanded by the officials to trample on the cross, Father Nghi simply replied: "Your Excellency, we ask for your sword." The official was enraged and ordered 40-50 strokes of the rod on Fathers Nghi and Ngan. On November 8, 1840, the death sentences from the capital arrived, and all three were beheaded on the same day. Together with Father Ngan, Father Nghi was buried at Ke Bang church.

Priest Joseph Nguyen Dinh Nghi was beatified on May 27, 1900 and canonized on June 19, 1988.