(VOVWORLD) - Vietnam has nearly 7 million Catholics, who have upheld the motto “living the gospel, serving the Christ, and serving the nation” and promoted a spirit of religious solidarity to jointly develop the homeland. Catholics nationwide have contributed to national development. Many of them have become role models in patriotic and socio-economic development movements.
 Festive Christmas atmosphere spreads across big cities in Vietnam, especially at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Hanoi. (Photo: Quyet Thang/VOV2) |
Pham Van Diem of Hanoi is known as an outstanding parishioner in patriotic and socio-economic development movements.
As a member of Hanoi’s Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics, Diem has motivated local laypeople to follow Party guidelines, State laws, and the local regulations.
He has been a liaison between parishioners and functional agencies, between Catholics and non-Catholics, participated in charity activities, and helped other locals in economic development.
“When Hanoi’s Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics launched a program to raise money for the poor or people affected by natural disasters, my family donated 200 to 700 USD. Every year we set up a fund for the poor,” said Diem.
Nguyen Van Huan, head of Tan Dao diocese in Thanh Hoa province, has set a bright example in living the gospel, serving the Christ, and serving the nation.
In addition to strictly abiding by Party guidelines and State policies, Huan has worked to unite people, maintained security and social order, led socio-economic development movements, and participated in local activities.
Huan said, “To be a role model, you must do well first. Then others will follow suit.”
Echoing Huan, Nguyen Hong Phuoc, Chairman of the Yen Khanh Diocese Council in Thanh Hoa province, said that in order to persuade other parishioners to build the homeland, the leader must set an example with his actions.
Phuoc has worked closely with the local government, priests, and heads of the parish clans in the diocese to persuade the fishermen living on the Ma River to build houses on the banks. His efforts have paid dividends.
Phuoc recalled that he had talked to the priests and parishioners in the diocese and asked the Yen Dinh district government to grant 179 plots of land to parishioners.
“To date, more than 130 houses have been built and we are trying to complete more houses soon to bring the rest of them ashore to stabilize their lives,” said Phuoc.
 Priest Tran Xuan Manh, President of the Central Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics. (Photo: VNA) |
Thanks to parishioners like Diem, Huan, and Phuoc, a number of Catholic-populated areas have become role models in economic development, poverty reduction, protection of political security and social order, and building a cultural lifestyle.
The Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics at all levels will continue to implement programs and activities to consolidate national unity.
Priest Tran Xuan Manh, President of the Central Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics, said that they have encouraged the locals to participate in building new-style rural areas, civilized urban areas, welfare projects, and social charity activities.
“We’ve also called on Catholics and non-Catholics to unite to build and protect the homeland and national security, encourage the younger generation to seek both morality and knowledge, and respond to local movements,” priest Manh noted.
The active participation of Catholics nationwide in all fields of life and society has shown that Catholics are an essential part of national solidarity and make important contributions to national development.