Focus on building cadres who are Catholics

Dong Lam Parish Church, Hung Son Commune. Photo: Thai Hien

Hung Son Commune, Anh Son District currently has 943 households, of which the parishioners of Dong Lam Parish account for 33.3%, distributed in 5/9 hamlets, concentrated in hamlets 7, 8, 9. In recent years, Hung Son Commune has built and promoted solidarity between Catholics and non-Catholics, bringing the locality from a low starting point, with difficulties on all sides, to become a strong locality in all aspects.

Having the opportunity to work in Hung Son commune, witnessing a friendly football match between Dong Lam Parish football team and the joint football team of Anh Son District People's Committee and Hung Son commune, I could see the extremely bustling, friendly and open atmosphere between Catholic and non-Catholic people here. According to Mr. Vo Van Hien - Secretary of the Commune Party Committee, this is one of the activities organized by Hung Son commune and Dong Lam parish every year to strengthen solidarity and cohesion between Catholic and non-Catholic people.

Village 9,Hung Son commune is a village where the proportion of Catholics accounts for nearly 90% of the population. Catholics here always live"good life, good religion",unity, mutual support,actively participate in patriotic emulation movements, especially in the economic development and poverty reduction movements.

The family of parishioner Nguyen Thi Tai is one of the typical parishioner households with good economic performance in village 9, Hung Son commune. Photo: Thai Hien

The family of parishioner Nguyen Thi Tai, one of the typical parishioners who are good at economic activities in the village, said: Previously, her whole family depended on a few fields, so the family's life was very difficult. However, since 2013, when she was able to borrow capital to develop the economy, her family has planted 1 hectare of tea, raised pigs, chickens, goats..., and life is getting better and better. The average income is nearly 100 million VND per year.

Hung Son Catholic and non-Catholic people join hands to build roads. Photo: Thai Hien

Not only developing the economy, the parishioners of village 9, Hung Son communealways takes the lead in the new rural construction movement with 100% of households in the hamlet participating in donating land, 99% of households in the hamlets volunteer to donate an average of 50-60m2 of land, large households up to 700m2 of land to build inter-village and inter-commune roads. The average income of the hamlet is the highest in the commune with 41 million VND/person/year.

In order to build solidarity between Catholics and non-Catholics, contributing to the successful implementation of the local socio-economic development task, in recent years the Party Committee of Hung Son commune has frankly recognized the situation from the grassroots level to have many suitable solutions and effective implementation, focusing on building a team of cadres who are Catholics to propagate and mobilize Catholics.

To build an increasingly close solidarity between Catholics and non-Catholics, Hung Son commune has focused on building a team of Catholic cadres to propagate and mobilize Catholics to develop the economy, culture and society. Photo: Thai Hien

Currently, the political system in Hung Son commune from the Party Committee, government, Fatherland Front and organizations from the commune to the village has the largest Catholic population in Anh Son district with 17 people, 3 of whom are commune officials, including 1 party member, President of the Commune Women's Union, 1 party member, Secretary of the Youth Union and 1 official, currently Vice President of the Commune Fatherland Front Committee.

With the motto: "Listen to people, speak so that people understand, make people believe", cadres and party members who follow Catholicism are not only positive, exemplary, and leading factors in activities, but also bridges and "powerful arms" in promoting propaganda and political and ideological education, the Party's guidelines, and the State's policies and laws according to the motto "Live a good life, love your religion", "Respect God and love your country".

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thai - President of the Women's Union of Hung Son commune shared: As a party member and also a parishioner, I always clearly identify my responsibilities. Every time we implement policies and guidelines, we coordinate with the parish to propagate and mobilize parishioners to comply and fulfill their duty to live the gospel in the heart of the nation. From there, we have created solidarity, unanimity, and harmony between "religion and life" of the Catholic and non-Catholic people here.

Mr. Vo Van Hien - Secretary of Hung Son Commune Party Committee said: In recent times, the Party Committee and the communal government have very well resolved the relationship of solidarity between Catholics and non-Catholics, building a great national unity bloc. The Party Committee, the government, the Fatherland Front and the communal organizations have regularly met with dignitaries, officials and parishioners to grasp their aspirations and promptly resolve difficulties for the people.

All relationships between religions in the district and the Party Committee and government are increasingly open, close and cohesive. Since then, the strength of national solidarity has been promoted, socio-economic tasks have been successfully carried out, and political security and social order and safety in the locality have been maintained.