Definition

1. Noun:
   • Vicar; Parish Priest: A priest who is in charge of a parish, the main administrative unit in some Christian denominations, particularly in Catholicism. The term emphasizes the priest's role as the spiritual leader and administrator of a local church community.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Cha xứ mới rất được giáo dân yêu mến. (The new vicar is very beloved by the parishioners.)
  • Mọi người trong giáo xứ đều nghe theo lời khuyên của cha xứ. (Everyone in the parish follows the vicar's advice.)
  • Cha xứ đang cử hành thánh lễ. (The parish priest is celebrating mass.)

Advanced Usage

• "cha sở": This is a near-synonym, also meaning "parish priest." While often used interchangeably with "cha xứ," "cha sở" can sometimes carry a stronger connotation of being the head or rector of the main church in a parish.
  • Cha sở đang họp với ban hành giáo. (The parish rector is meeting with the pastoral council.)

Variants and Related Words

• Giáo xứ (n): Parish. This refers to the community and territory under the care of a "cha xứ."
  • Giáo xứ này có lịch sử hơn 300 năm. (This parish has a history of over 300 years.)
• Linh mục (n): Priest. This is the general term for an ordained priest. A "cha xứ" is a specific type of "linh mục."
  • Ngài là một linh mục trẻ. (He is a young priest.)

Synonyms

• Vicar: The direct English equivalent, commonly used in Anglican contexts but understood for Catholic contexts in Vietnamese-English translation.
• Parish Priest: A more general term describing the same role.
• Curé: A term of French origin, historically used in Vietnamese Catholic contexts to mean parish priest.

Related Phrases

• Nhà xứ (n): Parish house; rectory. The residence of the "cha xứ."
  • Nhà xứ nằm ngay cạnh nhà thờ. (The rectory is located right next to the church.)
• Đến nhà xứ gặp cha: To go to the rectory to meet the priest.
  • Cô ấy đến nhà xứ gặp cha để xin lời khuyên. (She went to the rectory to meet the priest for advice.)

1. Vicar