"Arousing" the inner strength of religious people (Part 2)

08:13, 06/09/2023

Part 2: Building bridges of humanity

Taking on many different roles and positions, the common point of religious dignitaries and followers is to spread and connect the spirit of compassion, charity, love and join hands in solidarity, contributing to building the locality to develop more and more.

The Charity of a Priest

The tall figure, friendly smile, and open way of speaking of Parish Priest Pham The Truyen, Head of the Service Committee of Kim Phat Parish (Hoa Hiep Commune, Cu Kuin District) always makes those who come into contact with him feel close. Speaking about what he does in a slow, humble tone, Priest Truyen said: "Being able to build a "bridge" of humanity is a joy and happiness."

Parish priest Pham The Truyen (second from right) discusses the situation of religious activities in the area with leaders of Hoa Hiep commune, Cu Kuin district.

Graduated from the University of Economics , once held the position of Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ea Ktur commune (Cu Kuin district), but Mr. Truyen chose to change his life direction to... become a monk. After studying and working at parishes, in 2014, Mr. Truyen returned to Kim Phat Parish to take on the role of Parish Priest, vowing to devote all his energy to serving God and the believers and has become a prestigious person in the community.

In religious activities, he brought the general direction of Catholicism, which is “living a good life, living a good religion” and the doctrine of “love and charity”, to spread to believers. In order to create harmony between religion and life, he taught believers how to cooperate with society, that is, enthusiastically participating in local movements and activities. Of the 34 security and order groups established from the 3-Safety Model in the commune, there are 26 groups in Kim Phat village and the members are all parishioners and members of the Kim Phat Parish Council. The activities of the groups have contributed positively to maintaining security and order in the area.

Promoting his role as a prestigious person, Father Truyen has mobilized and connected believers and benefactors to contribute to the construction of new rural areas in the locality, joining hands to prevent and fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Up to now, 100% of the roads in Kim Phat village have been concreted. In addition, Father Truyen has also mobilized resources to join hands to build 68 charity houses for households with housing difficulties, especially ethnic minority households. On average, each year, he also mobilizes about 1,000 gifts to give to poor households.

Secretary of the Party Committee of Hoa Hiep Commune, Tran Van Thuc, commented: "Father Pham The Truyen is a person who always cares about and accompanies the government in economic development, ensuring social security, maintaining national defense and security stability in the locality, contributing to building great national unity."

"Sow" the seeds of love

“My personal vow on the path of propagating the Dharma is to dedicate myself to serving. Bringing happiness to others is bringing happiness to myself.” - that is the sharing of Venerable Thich Minh Dang, Head of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Cu M'gar district, Abbot of Hoa Nghiem Pagoda (Cu M'gar district).

Venerable Thich Minh Dang, Abbot of Hoa Nghiem Pagoda, and benefactors handed over a charity classroom in Hop Thanh village (Ea M'droh commune, Cu M'gar district).

As an active and dedicated monk, throughout his time practicing, organizing religious activities for Buddhists, imparting Buddhist teachings, and serving sentient beings, Venerable Thich Minh Dang always directed his mind to the unfortunate and disadvantaged. The journey of more than 10 years of "sowing" seeds and connecting love by Venerable Thich Minh Dang has brought joy, happiness, and opportunities to rise up to thousands of people.

Taking advantage of social networks, Venerable Thich Minh Dang has built a website and a Fanpage of Hoa Nghiem Pagoda - Cu M'gar. The cases with especially difficult and unfortunate circumstances are directly surveyed, verified by the Venerable and called for the kindness of Buddhists and benefactors to support. During field trips to remote areas, ethnic minority areas, the unfortunate lives, the lost eyes of orphans, dilapidated houses, and makeshift classrooms have haunted the Venerable's mind. Therefore, in addition to 20 orphans and children with special circumstances who have been adopted at the pagoda since 2015, Venerable Thich Minh Dang has also founded and maintained the "Following You to School" fund, in coordination with the "Long-distance Support" project of Cu M'gar District Youth Union to provide timely assistance to orphaned and studious ethnic minority students. After nearly 4 years (since 2019), the fund has awarded monthly scholarships (from 300,000 VND or more) to 270 students in the districts of Cu M'gar, Krong Pac, Krong Bong, Ea H'leo and Buon Ho town.

The “seeds” of love from the Buddhists of Hoa Nghiem Pagoda and Venerable Thich Minh Dang himself have also spread to schools in remote areas. Thereby, 15 classrooms have been supported and coordinated to be built in schools with special difficulties, more than 20 schools in the province have been sponsored by the pagoda with essential medicines to serve primary health care for students. Joining hands with the government and socio-political organizations to carry out social security work, Venerable Thich Minh Dang and Hoa Nghiem Pagoda have mobilized and connected resources to support the construction of 24 charity houses and presented thousands of social security gifts to poor households, lonely elderly people, and those in especially difficult circumstances.

Complete "5 roles"

Moving from his hometown of Nam Dinh to live in Ea Kring village since 1997, Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Head of the Dominican parish in Ea Kring village, Ea Sin commune (Krong Buk district) considers this place as his second hometown. Although he "shoulders" 5 "roles", being the organizer of religious activities for the people, in charge of the village Front work, a prestigious person, a member of the reconciliation team and the Head of the Ea Kring Village Elderly Association, there are many unnamed jobs but Mr. Hung always "fulfills his roles".

Mr. Nguyen Van Hung (left), Head of the Dominican parish in Ea Kring hamlet (Ea Sin commune, Krong Buk district) discussed ways to develop family economy with commune leaders.

He has accompanied the village elders, the self-management committee, the unions and the village mediation team to propagate and popularize the law, and participated in the successful mediation of many conflicts and disagreements in marital relationships and small disputes in the village. The village is peaceful, the family is harmonious, Ea Kring village has been recognized as a cultural village, and the people's lives have been increasingly improved. Following his father's example, the second son of his family also actively participates in local work and has been honored to be admitted to the Party.

Commenting on the role of Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Secretary of the Ea Sin Commune Party Committee Vu Van Tuan said: "Mr. Nguyen Van Hung is an exemplary parishioner, a "support" for the local Party Committee and government in implementing the policy of great national unity, bringing the Party's guidelines and policies and the State's laws into life."

(To be continued)

Final episode: Parish Party members set an example

Yen Lan - Nhu Hong

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/chinh-tri/202309/khoi-noi-luc-trong-dong-bao-ton-giao-ky-2-79b229a/