Reporter (PV):

Priest Giuse Tran Xuan Manh : The Central Committee of the Vietnam Catholic Solidarity Committee has launched a patriotic emulation movement with specific contents, focusing on 8 contents of the emulation movement "All people unite to build new rural areas, civilized urban areas, live a good life and good religion" issued and launched by the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Catholic Solidarity Committee.

From these contents, the Vietnam Catholic Solidarity Committees of provinces and cities have guided the emulation work to the grassroots. Some localities have built a set of criteria and specific emulation contents suitable to the characteristics and situation of the residential area, so patriotic emulation has become practical for grassroots life and has been widely accepted by Catholics.

In the system of the Vietnam Catholic Solidarity Committee, we have organized provincial-level emulation clusters; signed emulation covenants between the (former) district-level Catholic Solidarity Committees.

From the general movement launched by the Central Committee of the Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics, provinces and cities closely follow their local socio -economic development plans to build specific and suitable emulation content, creating resonance with the emulation movements of sectors, the Fatherland Front, etc.

Priest Joseph Tran Xuan Manh. Photo: An Luych

PV:

Priest Giuse Tran Xuan Manh : It can be said that patriotic emulation has spread throughout areas where many Catholics live, bringing practical meaning; contributing to improving the quality of life, and making villages and parishes flourish.

Through the competition, there have been outstanding achievements in the following areas: Economic development, building a cultural lifestyle, building new rural areas, civilized urban areas, environmental protection, national security protection, social charity...

In addition to the economic and cultural fields, most of the Vietnam Catholic Solidarity Committees in provinces and cities have coordinated with functional agencies to propagate and mobilize Catholics to properly implement the State's policies and laws; build "peaceful religious villages", "peaceful parishes", 3-no parishes (no social evils, no drugs, no violations of the law), and "5-no" residential areas (no drugs - no prostitution - no gambling - no theft - no violations of the law).

Typically, the Catholic Solidarity Committee of Khanh Hoa province coordinated with the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department and the Provincial Border Guard Command to organize propaganda on Vietnam's sea and island sovereignty ; coordinated with the Provincial Police to organize propaganda and build a model to protect national security in areas with a large Catholic population.

Patriotic emulation along with the integration policy and development of the socialist-oriented market economy have created a strong driving force for businesses owned by Catholics to affirm their position in the market, such as TNG Investment and Trading Joint Stock Company, Truong An Golf Investment Joint Stock Company, Tan Thien Phu Company Limited, etc. In addition, the connection between the three houses (scientists, farmers and entrepreneurs) has been strengthened, bringing high efficiency in developing the agricultural economy; farm economy has become a production trend, bringing billions of dong in income to many families.

Another outstanding content is the construction of new rural areas, advanced new rural areas, civilized urban areas, and environmental protection. These activities have the coordination of propaganda and mobilization of many parish priests, so Catholic families are willing to remove part of the house wall, donate part of residential land, agricultural land to adjust and expand roads, contribute money and labor days to build infrastructure, and promote local potential for economic development. Environmental protection activities under the coordination program "Promoting the role of religions in environmental protection and responding to climate change" are focused on by Catholics, contributing to building a green - clean - beautiful landscape.

PV:

Priest Giuse Tran Xuan Manh : The Catholic charity and morality have permeated social charity activities, even in economic development - many people not only enrich themselves but also help others with production capital and materials without taking interest. Many Catholic families in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City build houses for students to stay for free, or maintain free meals and porridge to serve patients at hospitals.

Many religious orders raise dozens of orphans, disabled children, lonely elderly people; support medical care for patients..., typically the Saint An Bui Chu Orphanage, the Miraculous Image Order, the Saint John Hospital Order... The Order of Mary Queen of Peace in Gia Nghia parish (Ban Me Thuot diocese) has served over 164 thousand free meals at hospitals with a value of nearly 2 billion VND. In Dong Nai province (old), Catholics have participated in more than 900 billion VND in the field of social charity, medical care... In Khanh Hoa province, most religious orders have charitable activities, including 3 facilities raising and caring for nearly 250 orphans and disabled children...

It can be said that charity is a constant beauty in the religious life of Catholics - as the Beatitudes teach: "Blessed is the one who is merciful to others."

Knight of the Grand Cross Anna Nguyen Thi Kim Yen visits and gives gifts to poor households in Dak Lak province. Photo: An Luych

PV:

Priest Giuse Tran Xuan Manh : The congress will take place on September 11, an opportunity to evaluate the patriotic emulation movements in the recent past, thereby inheriting and promoting good and creative practices to improve the effectiveness of emulation in the new period.

This is also an opportunity to commend and reward exemplary good people and good deeds in all areas of social life. In particular, with the participation and speeches of representatives of the Party, State and Fatherland Front, the Congress will strongly encourage and spread patriotism and national pride among Catholics, contributing to better implementing the direction of the Church's attachment and companionship with the nation.

The good deeds of Catholic compatriots that the Congress summarized and commended will be a living proof of the patriotism and national solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics.

The Congress also made some adjustments related to the organization of patriotic emulation in the context of the recent merger of administrative units. The adjustments are aimed at adapting to the new reality, while at the same time inheriting and promoting the good traditions of the localities.

PV:

Priest Giuse Tran Xuan Manh : In my opinion, the Vietnam Catholic Solidarity Committee needs to focus on building a lifestyle and a way of expressing Faith that is consistent with the nation's cultural traditions; creating spiritual motivation and national pride so that each person will compete from the bottom of their hearts to love the Fatherland and the Church and proactively act to contribute to the development of the country and the advancement of the life of Faith.

In addition, when building and organizing the movement, it is necessary to promote Catholic ethics and culture in life, identifying this as an important resource along with other resources contributing to building the country and building a happy and peaceful life in families, communities and society.

In addition, it is necessary to be proactive and creative in promoting patriotic emulation, avoiding rigidity and stereotypes; promoting digital transformation, applying information technology, coordinating between media in the press and social networking platforms to attract and spread patriotic emulation activities.

With the spirit of “Respect God - Love the country” and the blending of the Gospel spirit with the national spirit, I believe that Catholics will continue to be active and living members of the Vietnamese ethnic community in the cause of building and developing the country, serving the happiness of their compatriots.

PV:

AN LUONG (implementation)

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/xa-hoi/dan-toc-ton-giao/cac-van-de/khich-le-long-yeu-nuoc-va-tu-hao-dan-toc-trong-dong-bao-cong-giao-845006