Imprints of government and civil mobilization in Dien Hong religious area

Arriving at the Bac Hong hamlet's cultural house, the non-religious and non-religious people were gathering together to celebrate the completion of the village's cultural house renovation. This was a project built with the solidarity of the people here. With nearly 1,300 people, each person contributed 80 thousand VND, and then the commune government provided additional support, so Bac Hong had a spacious and fully equipped cultural house with a total cost of 280 million VND.

Bac Hong Church was built with solidarity and mutual support between Catholics and non-Catholics. Photo: Mai Giang

Talking about the solidarity here, Ms. Hoang Thi Ngoc - a parishioner said: "Inside and outside the family, both non-Catholics and Catholics are always united, encouraging each other to do well in the village work. A very convincing proof is when the parishioners built the church. With limited funds, for 4 years, non-Catholics supported hundreds of working days to build a spacious church, saving hundreds of millions of VND in construction costs."

Dong Thap Diocese Church (Dien Hong). Source: giaoxugiaohovietnam.com

Bac Hong hamlet, Dien Hong commune has 267 households, half of which are Catholics belonging to Dong Khe parish. Building solidarity and love among Catholics and non-Catholics here is a long story, a convincing proof of the efforts and determination of the Dien Hong Party Committee and government as well as the hamlet executive committee and the local Catholic community. Because they live together, religious activities sometimes affect non-Catholics. Although there are no hot spots or insecurity, there are times when there are simmering and divisions.

Realizing this early, the Dien Hong Party Committee and government have stepped up mass mobilization work. Not only have they built mass mobilization models, but the commune leaders have also directly taken charge of and mobilized the consolidation of the political system here. Accordingly, the Party cell has been strengthened with 12 party members. The hamlet executive committee harmonizes between Catholics and non-Catholics, and the head of the Catholic Executive Committee holds the position of hamlet chief. The Catholic Executive Committee always has a connection to properly and fairly resolve all rights and obligations of Catholics and non-Catholics.

The Dong Khe Parish Executive Committee and the Bac Hong Hamlet Executive Committee together encouraged parishioners to live a "good life and good religion". Photo: Mai Giang

Carrying the solidarity joy of Bac Hong, we came to the Hoa Thanh Catholic hamlet. We felt the wealth and prosperity from the working atmosphere of the people here. Although the area is adjacent to National Highway 1A, in the past, people only knew how to produce pure agriculture such as peanuts, corn, and vegetables. Realizing that the land's potential had not been fully exploited, Dien Hong commune had a policy of developing industry and services in the area. At first, people were still hesitant due to limited potential and fear of losing their production land.

Dong Thap Diocese (Dien Hong) held a Mass to celebrate the Immaculate Conception. Source: giaoxugiaohovietnam.com

However, the leaders of the commune and hamlet joined in propagating and explaining to the people to convert land to build an industrial park, and brought two party members, the Youth Union Secretary and the War Veterans Chairman, to strengthen and participate in activities at the Party cell. The commune increased investment attraction and credit linkage to help the people have conditions for production. Thanks to that, 40 families of Hoa Thanh have now built factories to produce steel, roofing sheets, plastic granules, and trade in cars and electronics. More than 100 workers of the hamlet have gone abroad.

From a purely agricultural economy with low income, thanks to the good implementation of the job conversion work, the lives of the people of Hoa Thanh have been constantly improved. Currently, the income of the people has reached nearly 50 million VND/person/year. Agricultural production labor accounts for only 30%. The economic life has improved so there is no need to move much, the people have invested in building the new rural area. The wide, long concrete roads surrounding the prosperous villages, the joy and pride are shown on every face of the people here.

The religious committee and the Bac Hong hamlet executive committee discuss and propagate for people to live "a good life and a good religion". Photo: Mai Giang

Dien Hong is located in the north of Dien Chau district, with a current population of over 11,600 people, of which over 4,800 are Catholic, accounting for over 41% of the population. The whole commune has 9 hamlets, of which 6 hamlets have Catholics from Dong Thap parish. At times, there were conflicts between Catholics and non-Catholics in Dien Hong, dividing the great solidarity bloc.

With the viewpoint that only when there is stability and unity between religions can there be development, mass mobilization work is promoted. Not only do mass organizations participate with good models, but key cadres also participate in mass mobilization work with the government. The commune Party Committee focuses on developing party members and consolidating the political system in Catholic areas.

Priests celebrate Mass in honor of the Immaculate Conception. Photo: giaoxugiaohovietnam.com

All 6 hamlets with religious followers have established party cells, including 17 party members of religious origin. In addition, leaders of the Party Committee, government, Fatherland Front and local organizations regularly meet with dignitaries, officials and parishioners to grasp their thoughts and aspirations, and promptly resolve difficulties for the people. Pay attention to the material and spiritual life of religious followers to create close ties. Focus on promoting similarities between the contents of religious teachings and legal regulations.... Religion as well as salaries, investment in building facilities, welfare projects, job creation, and loans for hunger eradication and poverty reduction are all implemented fairly by the government.

Thanks to that, over the years, Dien Hong has always been a bright spot in the solidarity of religions in Dien Chau. The rate of cultural families of Catholics accounts for 83%, 4/6 hamlets with religious followers have achieved the cultural hamlet title. In the construction of the new rural area, Dien Hong Catholics have invested nearly 20 billion VND in building concrete roads in rural areas and inner-field roads, donated hundreds of hectares of land to build welfare works..., contributing significantly to Dien Hong reaching the top of the district in the new rural area at the end of 2014. The income of Dien Hong Catholics reaches 45 million VND/person/year. The political situation, security and order are stable, without any complicated incidents related to religion.

Ms. Vo Thi Huong - Secretary of Hoa Thanh Party Cell: "The Party Committee, the government, the Fatherland Front and the mass organizations of the commune regularly coordinate closely with dignitaries, officials, and prestigious people among the religious community to visit each family to explain and mobilize. At the same time, develop plans and integrate propaganda into sermons at churches so that parishioners understand the purpose, meaning, and policies on economic development as well as new rural construction of the Party and State. From there, democratically discuss, participate in opinions and actively contribute efforts, intelligence, and resources to the development of villages."

Mr. Kieu Van Hung - Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, Deputy Head of the Mass Mobilization Committee of Dien Hong Commune Government:"To innovate and improve the effectiveness of the government's mass mobilization work, the commune has reviewed and reorganized the Steering Committee for the implementation of the government's mass mobilization work. The first thing to pay attention to is the work of cadres. Being close to the grassroots is the first task of cadres. With the motto "towards the grassroots", mass mobilization work in the religious areas is carried out in a diverse and rich manner, suitable to the characteristics and customs, directly helping people develop the economy, culture, society, and national defense and security".