Mirror connecting religion and life

Priest Tran Xuan Thao, representing the provincial Catholic delegation, spoke before leaving for the 6th National Emulation Congress to commend good people and good deeds among Catholics, 2020-2025 period, held in Hanoi City. Photo: Van Truyen

Recently, at the 6th National Emulation Congress to commend good people and good deeds among Catholics, period 2020-2025, taking place on September 10 and 11, in Hanoi City, Priest Tran Xuan Thao was one of 3 individuals of Dong Nai Catholicism to be commended.

Elected as Chairman of the Vietnam Catholic Solidarity Committee of Dong Nai province for 8 terms

Sharing about his journey of fulfilling his religious and worldly duties, Father Tran Xuan Thao said: He always keeps in mind that he must help people understand religion and Catholics understand life. At the same time, he is consistent with the goal: Good life, good religion.

Therefore, in addition to his religious duties, Father Tran Xuan Thao has proactively participated in the Vietnam Catholic Bishops' Committee and the province with the desire to be a bridge between the Party, the government and religion. From 1983 to present, he has been elected 8 times as Chairman of the Vietnam Catholic Bishops' Committee of Dong Nai province. Currently, Father Tran Xuan Thao is the first and only Chairman since the establishment of the Vietnam Catholic Bishops' Committee of Dong Nai province until now. During this time, he also assumed the role of Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Catholic Bishops' Committee.

In his role as leader of the Vietnam Catholic Religious Committee and Dong Nai Province, he contributed to the establishment of the Vietnam Catholic Religious Committee at the district level in all districts and cities of Dong Nai Province (formerly). At the same time, he met with priests, monks and parishioners to mobilize people to participate in patriotic emulation movements and life-building campaigns launched by the State. Because according to him, the activities launched by the government are not outside of improving the quality of people's lives, which is what religion aims for.

Particularly in difficult times of life that require solidarity and joint efforts of the entire people, such as the time when the Covid-19 epidemic broke out, thanks to the mobilization of the government, religions have participated in preventing and fighting the epidemic. In particular, through the influence of Father Tran Xuan Thao, the Vietnam Catholic Bishops' Committee of Dong Nai province (former), the Vietnam Catholic Bishops' Committee at the district level (former) and many other factors, there have been more than 800 priests, monks, and lay people working side by side with other forces to stand on the front line when the country and Dong Nai province needed to repel the epidemic.

Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the province Nguyen Tan Phu said: In the past time, together with the Vietnam Catholic Church Committee in the province, Priest Tran Xuan Thao has played the role of a bridge between religion and life, actively contributing to the implementation of patriotic emulation movements.

At the 6th National Emulation Congress to commend good people and good deeds among Catholics, period 2020-2025, taking place on September 10 and 11, in Hanoi City, Dong Nai Catholics had 3 individuals commended, including: Priest Tran Xuan Thao, Chairman of the Provincial Committee of the Vietnam Catholic Bishops' Conference; Priest Nguyen Minh Chanh, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Committee of the Vietnam Catholic Bishops' Conference; Sister Bui Thi Hong Hanh, Deputy Chief of Office of the Provincial Committee of the Vietnam Catholic Bishops' Conference.

Efforts to build bridges

Recently, especially in 2025, despite his declining health due to old age, Father Tran Xuan Thao always tries not to be absent from any conferences that require his presence.

Priest Tran Xuan Thao shared: “I try to appear with dignitaries, officials and everyone, first of all to encourage spiritually in activities. In addition, with experience in religion and life, I can share my personal perspective for everyone to refer to.”

As the whole country embarked on the process of restructuring the apparatus, the Vietnam Catholic Bishops' Conference at the district level stopped operating. Priests, religious, and parishioners were concerned that the long-standing connection with the parishes would no longer exist. Priest Tran Xuan Thao went to each locality to meet and discuss with everyone that when this model of operation ended, there would be a more effective model of operation, suitable for the government apparatus and achieving better practical results.

In addition, Father Tran Xuan Thao, together with the Vietnam Catholic Bishops' Committee in the province, the Catholic Bishops' Committees of the districts (formerly) and the authorities at all levels, propagated the country's major policies in the organization and apparatus arrangement to help people understand the policies of the Party and State.

In addition, although he is no longer directly managing the Hanoi Parish Orphanage (Long Binh Ward), Father Tran Xuan Thao still takes time to visit and encourage orphans being cared for here; at the same time, connecting agencies, units, and kind-hearted individuals to join hands to care for orphans at the center.

With his contributions to religion and life, Mr. Tran Xuan Thao is the first priest in Dong Nai to be awarded the Third Class Independence Medal by the State. In addition, this senior priest has also received many awards from the Central to the local level.

According to the Deputy Director of the Hanoi Parish Orphanage Center, Vu Thi Kim Lien, in 1990, Father Tran Xuan Thao and everyone noticed an abandoned child in the last row of the Hanoi Parish Church after the end of Mass. From that time on, Father Tran Xuan Thao took care of the orphans and the center was born. Many generations have grown up and those who are attached to the center always remember Father Tran Xuan Thao's advice to do well in religious and worldly affairs. Thereby, contributing to society's moral education and taking good care of the children at the center.

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Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/202509/tam-guong-gan-ket-dao-va-doi-60818ae/