On 16 March 2025, Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta, shared a deeply personal reflection on the Vietnam War during a talk at the Crypt of St Patrick’s at Church Hill in Sydney, as part of the Australian Catholic Historical Society’s (ACHS) series to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the war.
The event, hosted by ACHS President Fr Brian Lucas, drew around 100 attendees. Many new members joined long-time supporters for the significant event.
A profound reflection
Bishop Vincent recalled the tragic consequences of the Vietnam War, focusing on his childhood experiences in Vietnam. Showing black-and-white photographs of devastated children and overcrowded boats full of ‘boat people’, he explained the pain and loss the war brought to his homeland.
“Fifty years after the Fall of Saigon, I still think the Vietnam War was a tragedy,” he said.
“There were lives lost, deep scars of physical and mental wounds, memories that still wait to be healed, on both sides of the conflict.”
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Australia shares his personal reflection on the Vietnam War at the Australian Catholic Historical Society’s (ACHS) series. Image: supplied
Healing together
While Bishop Vincent expressed personal grief over the war, he also called for reconciliation.
“History is incomplete when it is written solely from the perspective of the conquerors or when it ignores the pain of the vanquished,” he said.
His words resonated with the audience, particularly as he recalled his childhood memory of the 1968 Tet Offensive.
“I was seven years old at the time and I still remember seeing the dead bodies of retreating VCs scattered throughout the village,” he said to a stunned audience.
The legacy of the Vietnam War
Millions of people, including over 1.3 million civilians in Vietnam, were killed during the conflict.
Bishop Vincent acknowledged the involvement of Australian forces, emphasising that the war was Australia’s longest and most controversial military commitment of the 20th century, with over 60,000 military personnel serving there.
“Like Ukraine today, the overwhelming majority of South Vietnamese people saw themselves as fighting for their own survival,” he said.
Bishop Vincent recalled the sense of abandonment when the US and its allies withdrew, leaving South Vietnam to face the advancing communist forces alone. He spoke about the mass exodus of Vietnamese refugees, one of the largest refugee crises in history.
“We Vietnamese refugees and survivors of that tragic event are the living witnesses to freedom and fundamental human values denied to us in our own country,” he said.
Bishop Vincent with Fr Brian Lucas, the president of The Australian Catholic Historical Society. Image: supplied
Courage and resilience
Bishop Vincent’s story highlighted the courage and resilience of the Vietnamese people. He shared his personal experience of escaping Vietnam by boat in 1980 with his sister-in-law and her children, holding her baby for the most part of the journey.
“The most distressing experience I ever encountered.”
He also recalled the hardships faced by many refugees at the time, including encounters with pirates and communist coast guards.
Vietnamese refugees in Australia
Bishop Vincent acknowledged Australia’s role in providing refuge to countless individuals and families who had fled the war.
“Australia rose to the challenge in the past with its generous embrace of migrants and refugees,” he said.
He emphasised the significant contributions that Vietnamese Australians have made, from their involvement in the Catholic Church to their impact on Australian culture.
“Thanks to multiculturalism, we’ve now got a bit more culinary variety than bangers and mash!” he joked with the audience.
In his closing remarks, Bishop Vincent called for continued reconciliation and healing.
“We who were, and continue to be, witnesses to that tragedy, owe an enormous debt to those who suffered and continue to suffer from its consequences. It is the debt of our own humanity.”
Cathryn, a member of the audience. Image: supplied
Shared experiences
The talk brought buried memories to the surface for many in the audience, including Cathryn.
During question time, she wept about how she grew up knowing the pain and trauma experienced by herself and her parents during the war.
“I don’t think I’ve ever really spoken about it until now,” she said, fighting back her tears.
Bishop Vincent’s powerful reflection on the Vietnam War left a lasting impact on the audience and sparked plenty of conversations during the afternoon tea that followed.
Overall, the event served as a reminder of the enduring human cost of conflict and the need for reconciliation and healing.
The ACHS program is open to both members and non-members. Attendance is free but a gold coin donation for afternoon tea is encouraged.
Read the full speech by Bishop Vincent here.
For more information about the ACHS program, email secretaryachs@gmail.com
For the full program of speakers, please visit the ACHS website.
Want to learn more about the Vietnam War and personal experiences? Riverside Theatre in Parramatta is hosting ‘The Things We Carry’ a play by Sheila Ngoc Pham on Tuesday 15 April 2025. Visit Riverside Theatre to find out more and book tickets.
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