Definition

1. Noun:
   • A Catholic layperson: A member of the Catholic faith who is not part of the clergy (i.e., not a priest, deacon, or member of a religious order). The term specifically denotes an ordinary believer within the Catholic community.
   • A Christian layperson (historical/contextual): In some broader or historical contexts, it can refer to a lay Christian, though in modern Vietnamese usage, it is most strongly associated with Catholicism.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Các giáo dân trong giáo xứ rất tích cực tham gia hoạt động từ thiện. (The lay Catholics in the parish are very active in charity work.)
  • Buổi lễ có sự tham dự của các linh mục và giáo dân. (The ceremony was attended by priests and the laity.)
  • Ông ấy là một giáo dân ngoan đạo. (He is a devout Catholic layperson.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in contrast with "giáo sĩ" (clergy) and "tu sĩ" (religious brothers/sisters) to highlight the non-ordained status of the believer within the church structure.
• It can be part of formal ecclesiastical phrases, e.g., (the life of the laity).

Variants and Related Words

• Giáo dân giáo xứ (n): A parishioner; a Catholic layperson belonging to a specific parish.

  • Các giáo dân giáo xứ đóng góp xây nhà thờ mới. (The parishioners contributed to building the new church.)

• Giáo hữu (n): A somewhat older or formal term for a fellow Christian or Catholic, emphasizing religious fellowship.

Synonyms

• Layperson: A non-ordained member of a religious community.
• The laity: The collective body of religious believers who are not clergy.
• Parishioner: A member of a particular parish (specific context).

Related Terms (Contextual Clarification)

• Công giáo: Catholicism; often used as the direct modifier, e.g., (Catholic layperson), though alone typically implies Catholic.
• Tín đồ: A general term for an adherent or believer of any religion, less specific than

noun

1. catholic