Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement

Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement

Phong Trào Thiếu Nhi Thánh Thể Việt Nam
Abbreviation	VEYM
Formation	1929 (Founding of Eucharistic Crusade) 1964 (Bylaws released) 1971 (New bylaws approved by Bishop's Conference of Vietnam)
Founded at	Vietnam
Type	Catholic youth organization
Legal status	Active
Purpose	Spiritual education, youth formation, Eucharistic devotion
Headquarters	1811 E Center St, Anaheim, CA 92805
Location	United States, Vietnam, France, Canada, Australia
Region served	Worldwide, particularly in Vietnamese communities
Membership	25,000+
Official language	Vietnamese, English
National President	Dương Công Thái Hoàng
Main organ	National Council (Trung Ương)
Affiliations	Eucharistic Youth Movement, Catholic Church
Website	veym.net

The Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement (VEYM) (Vietnamse:Thiếu Nhi Thánh Thể) is a Catholic youth organization with the primary goal of educating and guiding young Vietnamese Catholics to live the Gospel, foster devotion to the Eucharist, and build Christian communities. It is part of the larger international Eucharistic Youth Movement, which has roots in Europe. The organization is particularly active in Vietnamese communities both in Vietnam and abroad.

History

The Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement in the USA (VEYM-USA) traces its roots back to the international Eucharistic Youth Movement (EYM). In Vietnam, the movement began named as the "Eucharistic Crusade", established in 1929 by the St. Sulpice priests at a religious school in Hà Nội, facilitated by the “École Puginier” brothers. The movement quickly expanded across dioceses, leading to the publication of its first Bylaws in 1964 to standardize activities. In 1965, the organization was renamed as the "Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement" as it is now known as today, emphasizing its mission of youth education. In January 1971, to better serve the educational needs of young Catholics, the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement released a new set of Bylaws approved by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Vietnam. Following the fall of Saigon in 1975, Vietnamese refugees spread across the world, and the movement grew within Vietnamese Catholic communities in countries like France, Germany, the United States, Canada, and Australia. Today, in the United States, the movement is known as the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement in the United States of America (VEYM-USA), continuing to thrive among Vietnamese-American Catholic communities.

Organization

The movement is structured with a comprehensive organization that encompasses a variety of roles, educational curricula, training camps, and symbolic elements like scarves. Leadership positions are clearly defined, ranging from local leaders who guide small youth groups to national and international levels, ensuring consistent spiritual formation and guidance across all levels. Each rank has a specific curriculum tailored to the spiritual and personal development appropriate for their age group, focusing on Bible study, moral education, and leadership skills.

Training camps are an integral part of the VEYM experience, serving as immersive environments where members engage in spiritual exercises, teamwork, and skill-building activities. These camps are often required to advance through the ranks, reinforcing lessons learned in weekly gatherings and preparing members for greater responsibilities within the organization.

The scarf system visually represents a member's journey and responsibilities, with different colors indicating their rank and level of spiritual and leadership maturity. These scarves are awarded as members complete the necessary training and demonstrate readiness for greater roles, symbolizing their growth in faith and commitment to serving the Church and community.

VEYM Ranks and Scarf Colors

Rank	Scarf Color	Vietnamese Name	Age Group	Stripe Ranks		Image
Seedling	Green	Ấu Nhi	6 - 9	1 Yellow Stripe: Co-Leader	2 Stripes: Leader	Green Scarf
Searcher	Blue	Thiếu Nhi	10 - 12	1 Yellow Stripe: Co-Leader	2 Stripes: Leader	Blue Scarf
Companion	Yellow	Nghĩa Sĩ	13 - 15	1 Red Stripe: Co-Leader	2 Stripes: Leader	Yellow Scarf
Knight of the Eucharist	Brown	Hiệp Sĩ	16+	1 Yellow Stripe: Co-Leader	2 Stripes: Leader	Brown Scarf
Youth Leader	Red w/ Yellow Stripe	Huynh Trưởng	18+	By default all red scarves have one yellow stripe	Red Scarf

Special Ranks and Scarves

Rank	Scarf Color	Vietnamese Name	Description
Youth Leader Trainer	Purple		Trains up students who are Knights of the Eucharist to be Youth Leaders
Senior Knight	Brown Scarf w/ red stripe	Hiệp Sĩ Trưởng Thành	Students who are soon to be promoted to youth leader

Notable Chapters

• Largest Đoàn Chapter: Tôma Trần Văn Thiện in Norcross