The First Bishop of the Diocese of Kontum, Viêt Nam, Monsignor Paul-Léon Seitz was born on December 22, 1906, in Le Havre, Rouen, France, the youngest of three children.
Joining the Société des Missions Etrangères in 1929, after completing military service in Morocco, he had to interrupt his studies due to health reasons, after he began to suffer from a lung disease. Once healed, he rejoined the Society and was ordained to the priesthood at 30 years of age on July 4, 1937.
The following September, he moved to Hanoi, Vietnam, as a missionary. There, he soon established popularity among the citizens, due to his humble and gentle character, and the poor and exemplary life which he led.
Aged 45, Seitz was appointed Apostolic Vicar of Kontum, following the death of Monsignor Jean-Liévin-Joseph Sion MEP., by Pope Pius XII, received his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Catula on October 3, 1952, from Archbishop John Jarlath Dooley SSCME., assisted by Bishops Raymond-Marie-Marcel Piquet MEP., and Joseph Marie Trinh-nhu-Khuê, at the Cathedral of Hanoi. His father and his sister were present for the ceremony.
Seitz was dedicated to medical and social welfare for the Montagnard people. He was active in fundraising efforts on behalf of the tribes people, securing donations from England and the United States.
During the Vietnam War, Seitz sought relief for the many thousands of refugees that were displaced by the Viet Cong.
On November 24, 1960, when the Vicariate of Kontum was elevated to a Diocese, Msgr. Seitz became its First Bishop.
Resigning from office on October 2, 1975, Bishop Seitz was forced to leave Vietnam due to political unrest. Returning to France, it is said that he found his joy in the chapel of the seminary of the Missionary Society, where he also ordained two new priests. Bishop Seitz passed away at the Val de Grâce Hospital in Paris on February 23, 1984, aged 77.
Joining the Société des Missions Etrangères in 1929, after completing military service in Morocco, he had to interrupt his studies due to health reasons, after he began to suffer from a lung disease. Once healed, he rejoined the Society and was ordained to the priesthood at 30 years of age on July 4, 1937.
The following September, he moved to Hanoi, Vietnam, as a missionary. There, he soon established popularity among the citizens, due to his humble and gentle character, and the poor and exemplary life which he led.
Aged 45, Seitz was appointed Apostolic Vicar of Kontum, following the death of Monsignor Jean-Liévin-Joseph Sion MEP., by Pope Pius XII, received his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Catula on October 3, 1952, from Archbishop John Jarlath Dooley SSCME., assisted by Bishops Raymond-Marie-Marcel Piquet MEP., and Joseph Marie Trinh-nhu-Khuê, at the Cathedral of Hanoi. His father and his sister were present for the ceremony.
Seitz was dedicated to medical and social welfare for the Montagnard people. He was active in fundraising efforts on behalf of the tribes people, securing donations from England and the United States.
During the Vietnam War, Seitz sought relief for the many thousands of refugees that were displaced by the Viet Cong.
On November 24, 1960, when the Vicariate of Kontum was elevated to a Diocese, Msgr. Seitz became its First Bishop.
Resigning from office on October 2, 1975, Bishop Seitz was forced to leave Vietnam due to political unrest. Returning to France, it is said that he found his joy in the chapel of the seminary of the Missionary Society, where he also ordained two new priests. Bishop Seitz passed away at the Val de Grâce Hospital in Paris on February 23, 1984, aged 77.
The First Bishop of the Diocese of Kontum, Viêt Nam, Monsignor Paul-Léon Seitz was born on December 22, 1906, in Le Havre, Rouen, France, the youngest of three children.
Joining the Société des Missions Etrangères in 1929, after completing military service in Morocco, he had to interrupt his studies due to health reasons, after he began to suffer from a lung disease. Once healed, he rejoined the Society and was ordained to the priesthood at 30 years of age on July 4, 1937.
The following September, he moved to Hanoi, Vietnam, as a missionary. There, he soon established popularity among the citizens, due to his humble and gentle character, and the poor and exemplary life which he led.
Aged 45, Seitz was appointed Apostolic Vicar of Kontum, following the death of Monsignor Jean-Liévin-Joseph Sion MEP., by Pope Pius XII, received his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Catula on October 3, 1952, from Archbishop John Jarlath Dooley SSCME., assisted by Bishops Raymond-Marie-Marcel Piquet MEP., and Joseph Marie Trinh-nhu-Khuê, at the Cathedral of Hanoi. His father and his sister were present for the ceremony.
Seitz was dedicated to medical and social welfare for the Montagnard people. He was active in fundraising efforts on behalf of the tribes people, securing donations from England and the United States.
During the Vietnam War, Seitz sought relief for the many thousands of refugees that were displaced by the Viet Cong.
On November 24, 1960, when the Vicariate of Kontum was elevated to a Diocese, Msgr. Seitz became its First Bishop.
Resigning from office on October 2, 1975, Bishop Seitz was forced to leave Vietnam due to political unrest. Returning to France, it is said that he found his joy in the chapel of the seminary of the Missionary Society, where he also ordained two new priests. Bishop Seitz passed away at the Val de Grâce Hospital in Paris on February 23, 1984, aged 77.
Joining the Société des Missions Etrangères in 1929, after completing military service in Morocco, he had to interrupt his studies due to health reasons, after he began to suffer from a lung disease. Once healed, he rejoined the Society and was ordained to the priesthood at 30 years of age on July 4, 1937.
The following September, he moved to Hanoi, Vietnam, as a missionary. There, he soon established popularity among the citizens, due to his humble and gentle character, and the poor and exemplary life which he led.
Aged 45, Seitz was appointed Apostolic Vicar of Kontum, following the death of Monsignor Jean-Liévin-Joseph Sion MEP., by Pope Pius XII, received his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Catula on October 3, 1952, from Archbishop John Jarlath Dooley SSCME., assisted by Bishops Raymond-Marie-Marcel Piquet MEP., and Joseph Marie Trinh-nhu-Khuê, at the Cathedral of Hanoi. His father and his sister were present for the ceremony.
Seitz was dedicated to medical and social welfare for the Montagnard people. He was active in fundraising efforts on behalf of the tribes people, securing donations from England and the United States.
During the Vietnam War, Seitz sought relief for the many thousands of refugees that were displaced by the Viet Cong.
On November 24, 1960, when the Vicariate of Kontum was elevated to a Diocese, Msgr. Seitz became its First Bishop.
Resigning from office on October 2, 1975, Bishop Seitz was forced to leave Vietnam due to political unrest. Returning to France, it is said that he found his joy in the chapel of the seminary of the Missionary Society, where he also ordained two new priests. Bishop Seitz passed away at the Val de Grâce Hospital in Paris on February 23, 1984, aged 77.
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