Ha Noi archdiocese’s century-old cathedral, considered a Catholic heritage center, has been elevated to minor basilica status. Yesterday Archbishop Peter Nguyen Van Nhon consecrated So Kien Church in Ha Nam province as the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Present at the special ceremony attended by some 7,000 Catholics were the visiting Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, non-resident pontifical representative for Vietnam, two local bishops and 80 priests. “The minor basilica status will help strengthen the faith of local Catholics to bravely live out their faith today, urge them to follow shining examples of martyrs, and raise awareness of respecting religious sites,” said Father Joseph Nguyen Khac Que, former head of So Kien church. Father Que said the Gothic-style church built in 1883 with an area of 2,100 sq m was used as the cathedral of Tay Dang Ngoai apostolic vicariate, the former name of Ha Noi vicariate which was elevated to an archdiocese in 1960. Vietnam now has four minor basilicas, the other three being Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Nhai Church in Nam Dinh province and a ruined church in the national Shrine of Our Lady of La Vang in Quang Tri province.