Peace in Ben Den parish

Visiting the family of Mr. Nguyen Trung Duc - Chairman of the Pastoral Council of Ben Den parish. With a warm handshake, an open and kind smile, he happily said: "In the past time, implementing the movements to build a new life, Ben Den parishioners as well as non-parishioners united to take care of building and developing the new economy to be like today, every family has food and property, builds high-rise buildings, buys cars".

View of Ben Den parishioners attending mass at the parish church. Photo: Thanh Tram

Ben Den Parish has 250 households, accounting for more than 70% of the village's population. Previously, under the guidance of parish priest Cao Dinh Cai, and now priest Pham Dinh Linh, the respected pastors, the parishioners wholeheartedly worship and follow God's commandments while at the same time confidently producing and doing business to improve their lives and contribute to building society. Not only producing and doing business in many products bustlingly and effectively, most families here have children working in England, France, Germany, Spain, Angola... In addition, there are 15 households raising commercial shrimp, this year having a good harvest with an income of billions of dong, 15 households trading in scrap, construction materials, and corrugated iron, many households go to Laos to collect scrap and import from other places. People also focus on building high-income fields planned by the commune.

Besides taking care of economic development, the Catholic and non-Catholic people here live together in solidarity and harmony, and actively participate in all emulation movements organized by the Party Committee, the government, and the Fatherland Front Committee at all levels. Most recently, the "new rural construction" movement was enthusiastically supported and effectively implemented by the parish priest and parishioners, and the appearance of the village is increasingly renewed and spacious.

Women of Dien Ky commune participate in activities to celebrate the founding anniversary of the Vietnam Women's Union on October 20. Photo: Thanh Tram

Recalling the years after peace was restored, reactionary forces plotted to force Catholics to migrate to the South. However, there were still patriotic Catholics who stayed to build their homeland, ready to participate in the nation's long-term resistance war. Then, during the nation's resistance wars, many young people of Ben Den parish, along with young people across the country, enthusiastically went to war. Many mothers were willing to shoulder the housework and encourage their children and grandchildren to go on duty. A typical example is Mother Tiep - a typical Catholic, who had only one son, but still encouraged him to join the army. When her son died, the pain weighed heavily on her shoulders, but she still tried to suppress the pain in her heart to live happily, live healthily, and "live a good life and a good religion". She was awarded the title "Heroic Vietnamese Mother" by the Party and the State. Following her example, generations of Catholics of Ben Den parish have promoted the tradition of respecting God and loving the country, continuing to contribute to protecting and building their homeland and a developed, peaceful country.

Teenagers and children of Village 2 (Ben Den) attend the Team parade to celebrate the 73rd anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day September 2. Photo: Thanh Tram

Mr. Le Hong Quang - Secretary of the Party Committee of Dien Ky commune shared: "The parishioners of Ben Den parish live honestly, respect God and love the country, always comply with the Party's policies and the State's laws, and 100% of the youth join the army every year. On occasions such as International Women's Day March 8, Vietnam Women's Union Day October 20, National Great Unity Day November 18, as well as movements launched by the government and mass organizations at all levels, 100% of the parishioners here participate. In particular, the parish pastoral council always pays attention to charity work in coordination with the village, commune, and district to give gifts and help policy households and families in difficult circumstances inside and outside the village."