Catholics in Nghe An look forward to the big festival

“A good Catholic must first of all be a good citizen”

Arriving at hamlet 7, Hung Chinh commune (Vinh city), just arriving at the beginning of the hamlet, we heard the loud loudspeaker reminding families to clean up and collect construction materials on both sides of the road to prepare for the day.electorNational Assembly and People's Council deputies at all levels.

Voting area number 7 in hamlet 7, Hung Chinh commune, Vinh city. Photo: KL

Hamlet chief Nguyen Van Tri, born in 1985, has been a hamlet leader for 11 years in a religious area and is also a candidate for the City People's Council. He is attentively tying up propaganda slogans to hang around the spacious cultural house in the 700m2 campus that was inaugurated at the end of 2020.

Hamlet 7 is a Catholic hamlet belonging to Vinh Giang parish (Cau Ram parish) with 415 voters, of which 80% are Catholics. Thanks to good propaganda work, people are aware of their civic responsibility in participating in the election. "My family has 4 voters, we are determined to"Arrange and organize time and work reasonably to participate in the election, choose delegates with enough capacity and talent to be worthy representatives of the people's voice" - Ms. Nguyen Thi Ly - a resident of Hamlet 7 said.

Officials of Hung Chinh commune, Vinh city and officers of hamlet 7 re-check the list of delegates. Photo: KL

Similarly, in Hamlet 6, Nghi Phu Commune (Vinh City), these days, anyone passing by the hamlet’s cultural house is impressed by the forest of national flags, billboards, and slogans that are brightly decorated. From the entrance gate to the two straight rows of areca trees running into the yard, propaganda slogans are hung, showing readiness for the national festival.

Mr. Nguyen Huu - Hamlet 6 Chief said: The hamlet cultural house has a large area (about 1700m2), with adequate facilities, and was chosen as the election team number 3 - the election location for voters in 3 parish hamlets (4,5,6) of Yen Dai Parish. The preparation and renovation work was carried out since April and has now been basically completed, ready to welcome more than 1,300 voters to the polls.

The cultural house of hamlet 6, election group 3, Nghi Phu commune, Vinh city, is brightly decorated. Photo: KL

Catholics in Vinh City currently have more than 13 thousand followers living in 13 parishes in 3 parishes (Yen Dai, Cau Ram - Vinh City) and Lang Anh parish (Nghi Phong commune, Nghi Loc). Not only are they voters, "God-fearing, patriotic" Catholics like Mr. Nguyen Van Tri and Mr. Nguyen Huu are also candidates actively participating in the preparation for the election of National Assembly and People's Council deputies at all levels.

Imbued with the teaching of Pope Benedict XVI, “A good Catholic must be a good citizen”, Catholics in Hung Nguyen district have been joining in the spirit of the great festival - the national election day. Although busy with the harvest and farming, many people still actively follow the information about the election, especially about the candidates, to be able to choose representatives with heart and talent, representing the will and aspirations of the people.

People of Hung Tay commune, Hung Nguyen are ready for the big festival. Photo: KL

In Hung Tay commune - where there are 10 election teams, including 3 teams in the Catholic area of ​​Ke Gai parish, Ms. Phan Thi Thuy - Chairwoman of the Fatherland Front of Hung Tay commune said: To help people understand the purpose, meaning and importance of the election of National Assembly deputies and People's Council deputies at all levels for the 2021-2026 term, every week, the commune organizes broadcasting on the commune and village loudspeaker system information related to the election of National Assembly deputies and People's Council deputies at all levels; election principles, delegate criteria, citizens' right to vote and run for election; number and structure of delegates...

In addition to general propaganda, propaganda is also integrated into the activities of the branches of mass organizations and propaganda through slogans, billboards, posters... to inform each citizen. In addition, the Fatherland Front has joined hands to support the construction of a flag road connecting Bac Ke Gai hamlet to Hung Thinh, a flag cluster on 72m road in Phuc Long hamlet... Thereby, helping people to promote the spirit of mastery, voluntarily participate in the election with the spirit of a great festival.

Meanwhile, at Quynh Thanh Catholic commune (Quynh Luu), the atmosphere was bustling and enthusiastic with red flags with yellow stars and slogans welcoming the election day of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 term hung along the roads. In the central area, the Commune Election Committee directed the Election Subcommittees to do a good job of propaganda, ensuring security, order, and environmental sanitation so that the election day would take place safely and solemnly.

Officers and soldiers of the Quynh Luu District Military Command guide people of Quynh Thanh commune to follow the list of elected delegates in the area. Photo: Hoang Trung

Mr. Phan Van Sam, a typical parishioner in Quynh Thanh commune, said: Over the past 30 years, he has participated in propagating many elections of National Assembly deputies and People's Councils at all levels in the locality. Not only propagating election-related content, he also grasps the thoughts and aspirations of parishioners and explains so that they understand correctly the meaning of the election and participate fully in the election. "Election Day is a festival for all people, so we are looking forward to the day we can hold the ballot to choose the people's representatives," Mr. Sam shared.

The entire Quynh Thanh commune has more than 9,000 voters who will exercise their rights and obligations at 8 voting groups. According to the commune election committee, 94.6% of the local candidates for the People's Council for the 2021-2026 term are Catholics, so the election propaganda work for local people has received special attention from all levels and sectors. The commune election committee closely coordinates with the parish and the parish to propagate to the people in mass, meetings, etc. so that all voters in the commune clearly understand the importance and significance of the election of deputies to the National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 term. Currently, preparations for the election in the commune have been completed. The list of voters and the list of candidates at 4 levels have been posted according to regulations. The facilities for the election have also been carefully prepared.

Quynh Luu district is a locality with a Catholic population of 26% with 17 parishes and 2 dioceses. Determining the election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 term as an important political task, the Quynh Luu district Election Committee focuses on leading, directing closely and comprehensively, organizing and implementing preparations for the election.

Voters of Quynh Thanh commune view the list of candidates and voters at the village cultural house. Photo: Viet Hung

In this election, Quynh Luu district has about 212,000 voters participating in the election at 259 polling stations. After 3 consultation conferences, the number of people on the official list of candidates for Quynh Luu district People's Council is 64 people, including 6 Catholics (39 delegates elected), and the number of people for commune and town People's Councils is 1,428 people, including 111 Catholics (849 delegates elected).

Along with people throughout the province, Catholics in Nghe An are looking forward to the big festival with the wish to choose worthy delegates to represent the legitimate aspirations of the people.

Ensuring Covid 19 epidemic prevention work

Currently, the Covid 19 epidemic is complicated, so in addition to election propaganda, local authorities also pay special attention to epidemic prevention work.

Localities in Hung Nguyen district focus on election propaganda combined with propaganda on Covid-19 epidemic prevention. Photo: Mai Hoa

In addition to the conditions of security and order, fire prevention, epidemic prevention measures at the polling stations are also given special attention. Ms. Phan Thi Thuy - Chairwoman of the Fatherland Front of Hung Tay commune (Hung Nguyen) said: After the merger of Hung Tay, the number of 26 hamlets was reduced to 10 hamlets, with a large number of voters, especially in the religious hamlets with 500-700 voters, while the cultural house has an excess in quantity but lacks in area, so the epidemic prevention work is a bit difficult. Currently, there are 5 election teams without roofs, the Fatherland Front of the commune has consulted with the commune election committee to deploy for the hamlets, rent tents, rent tables and chairs to ensure both the election work and ensure social distancing to prevent the epidemic.

According to the leader of the Fatherland Front of Hung Nguyen district, the whole district has 123 polling stations, each of which is equipped with hand sanitizer, masks, and body temperature measuring machines. All voters will be instructed to ensure a safe distance to prevent the epidemic. The district has also reviewed polling stations that are cultural houses with too crowded campuses, including religious hamlets where the number of voters is large, to have reasonable plans to ensure that the election takes place smoothly and safely.

Mr. Nguyen Huu - Head of Hamlet 6, Nghi Phu Commune, Vinh City, inspects the necessary steps to serve the election work. Photo: KL

In Vinh city, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Hong - Standing member of the city's Fatherland Front said: The work of ensuring epidemic prevention is strictly implemented according to the instructions in Official Dispatch No. 104/HD-UBBC dated May 11, 2021 of the Nghe An Provincial Election Committee. The city has also directed wards and communes to step up propaganda for voters to properly implement the Ministry of Health's 5K message, wear masks when voting; vote in groups of voters or households to form a one-way voter line, ensure the prescribed distance, and disinfect with disinfectants prepared at polling stations before and after voting.

Polling area of ​​An Hau Parish, Xuan Binh 14 Hamlet, Nghi Duc Commune, Vinh City.

At the polling stations, a small table is set up right at the entrance to the voting area for medical staff to measure body temperature and provide instructions on epidemic prevention measures. In addition, the election teams review the list and divide voters to ensure social distancing... Basically, at the polling stations, conditions are met to ensure Covid-19 epidemic prevention work, many polling stations, including those in religious areas, in addition to election propaganda slogans, also have epidemic prevention propaganda slogans and arrange epidemic prevention partitions...

Inside a cultural house chosen as a polling place in Vinh City. Photo: KL

Everything is ready for the great festival of the whole people, regardless of religion or belief. Everyone should exercise their rights and obligations as citizens to participate in the election, wisely choosing representatives with sufficient capacity and qualities for elected bodies at all levels.