A Faith that Crossed the Ocean

The Diocese of Erie sponsored the family of Lan Vu and Deacon Dominic Hoang Vu after they arrived in the United States as refugees from Vietnam.

Lan Vu grew up in central Vietnam and fled the country with her family of 11 children on April 29, 1975. After escaping by boat and being rescued by a Taiwanese merchant ship, the family traveled through Guam and Fort Indiantown Gap before being sponsored by the Diocese of Erie. Lan Vu stated that her family felt comfortable with the sponsorship because the Catholic Church provided a sense of familiarity and welcome.

The couple met while attending the University of Cincinnati and later served the Vietnamese Catholic community until 2010. Since then, they have served in various parishes within the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. They have three children, a daughter-in-law, and a grandson.