DA NANG (UCAN): Father James Tran Thanh Hung was forced to abandon his duties at Tien Loc parish in Da Nang, central Vietnam, for three weeks in March to receive treatment for diabetes and high blood pressure. It was the second time for the 45-year-old parish priest has been hospitalised for treatment in the neighbouring city of Hue.
Father Tran explains he has been struggling to control diabetes and blood pressure due to his relentless work and sleepless nights for years, which has taken a toll on his health.
“I have developed these conditions because I overworked myself and stayed up late for too long,” he said in a recent interview.
His daily routine has been punishing— rising early in the morning to celebrate Mass at 5:00am and going to bed at midnight after the day’s work finishes.
Father Tran looks after all spiritual and pastoral activities of the 865 people in the parish and three sub-parishes ranging from ministering the sacraments of Baptism, Confession, and Matrimony to catechism classes, visiting sick people, doing charities, and conducting funerals.
He carries out all the housework and writes his own homilies.
“I had no fixed mealtimes and barely exercised,” he said.
Father Tran explains he has been struggling to control diabetes and blood pressure due to his relentless work and sleepless nights for years, which has taken a toll on his health
He noted his situation is not unique in Vietnam and said that many priests like him suffer from heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and even strokes due to excessive workloads, late-night work, and social obligations.
“I know many friends, including priests and religious, who suffer from these illnesses because they work too much, sleep too little, and attend many gatherings where alcohol is involved,” Father Tran said.
He recounted that last November, a 44-year-old priest wo had battled diabetes and high blood pressure for years died from a stroke.
Vietnam is witnessing an alarming rise in stroke cases.
Data from Nhan Dan 115 Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, one of the country’s top stroke treatment centres, revealed a sharp increase in patients.
In 2021, the hospital admitted over 10,000 stroke patients. In 2023, the number surged past 16,000, and in 2024, the figure exceeded 17,000—the highest recorded yet.
I know many friends, including priests and religious, who suffer from these illnesses because they work too much, sleep too little, and attend many gatherings where alcohol is involved
Father Tran
The hospital data showed 10-12 per cent of stroke patients were under 45, a demographic that historically had a lower risk of such life-threatening conditions.
The World Health Organisation has identified strokes as the leading cause of death in Vietnam, with over 200,000 cases annually. Of these, 50 per cent result in death, and nearly 28 per cent occur in individuals under 65.
Health experts attribute this trend to modern work culture, where long hours, high stress, and lack of physical activity have become the norm. Many people work overtime, sometimes through weekends, just to keep up with work demands.
Experts warn that these diseases used to primarily affect people in their 50s or 60s, but now, younger individuals are at serious risk since they fail to manage their health properly.
Many priests across Vietnam are also overburdened, leading to widespread health problems, as shown by diocesan data.
In the Diocese of Da Nang, four priests retired early due to illness. The diocese has 137 priests serving 73,887 Catholics at 61 parishes and eight sub-parishes.
One 47-year-old priest, who requested anonymity, shared that he has been hospitalised three times for diabetes, stroke, and high blood pressure
On average, each priest is responsible for 540 parishioners, often spread out across rural areas, making their workload even heavier.
The situation is similar in the Archdiocese of Hue, where 182 priests minister to 69,000 Catholics at 97 parishes and 30 sub-parishes.
One 47-year-old priest, who requested anonymity, shared that he has been hospitalised three times for diabetes, stroke, and high blood pressure.
He said that his illnesses stemmed from the relentless fundraising and construction efforts for a new church six years ago. Earlier this year, he had to step away from his ministry and return to his family to focus on treatment.
“Besides taking medication, I try to rest, avoid late nights, go fishing, and visit others to unwind,” he said. He noted many local priests struggle with similar conditions due to smoking, caffeine addiction, lack of exercise, and nonstop pastoral duties.
“The cost of treating these illnesses is a financial burden. It drains clergy of their energy, makes them forgetful and irritable, and ultimately affects their ministry. It also puts extra pressure on other priests when they fall ill,” he explained.
He noted many local priests struggle with similar conditions due to smoking, caffeine addiction, lack of exercise, and nonstop pastoral duties
Nine priests in the archdiocese have already retired early due to health complications. While the archdiocese provides annual health check-ups and a care home for ailing priests, many continue to push themselves beyond their limits.
As Father Tran became physically unable to fulfill his pastoral duties, the diocese assigned an assistant priest to support him on March 15. He says it’s time for change, to reduce the workload, and maintain health and ministry in shifts.
He suggested priests engage in sports with parishioners, walk while visiting them, and delegate tasks like distributing the Eucharist to the sick or running parish groups to reduce the risk of these illnesses.
“It’s high time we changed how we work. We can only serve the Church well if we are physically and mentally strong,” he noted.
