Nghe An provincial leaders congratulated the success of the annual conference of the Vietnam Bishops' Council and the inauguration of the Vinh Diocese Pastoral Center.

On the morning of April 21, on the occasion of the successful organization of the 1st Annual Conference in 2023 of the Vietnam Bishops' Council and the Inauguration Ceremony of the Vinh Diocese Pastoral Center, the delegation of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province came to congratulate and share joy on two extremely meaningful and important events in the life of the Catholic Church.

Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy and leaders of Nghe An province greeted Archbishop Marek Zalewski - Non-resident representative of the Holy See in Vietnam; Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Nang - President of the Vietnam Bishops' Council; Cardinal Peter Nguyen Van Nhon - former Archbishop of the Hanoi Archdiocese; Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long - Bishop of Vinh Diocese and members of the Vietnam Bishops' Council... Photo: Thanh Duy

Overview of the meeting taking place at the Vinh Diocese Pastoral Center. Photo: Thanh Duy

From April 17 to 21, 2023, at the Vinh Diocese Bishop's Palace (Nghi Loc district, Nghe An), the first annual conference of 2023 of the Vietnam Bishops' Council took place. On this occasion, Vinh Diocese welcomed the diplomatic delegation of the Holy See to meet with the Vietnam Bishops' Council. This is the first time in its more than 170-year history that Vinh Diocese has had the honor to welcome and host the annual conference of the Vietnam Bishops' Council.

Also on the morning of April 21, Vinh Diocese held the inauguration of the Diocese's Pastoral Center. The inaugurated building is a place to organize common activities such as: liturgical celebrations, retreats, continuing education and training not only for priests and religious, but also for lay people, Pastoral Councils and associations.

Nghe An Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy speaks at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Duy

Speaking at the meeting, on behalf of the provincial leaders, Nghe An Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy respectfully sent to Archbishop Marek Zalewski; Cardinal Peter Nguyen Van Nhon, the Archbishops, Bishops representing the Dioceses in Vietnam, and the priests warm greetings and best wishes.

The Provincial Party Secretary emphasized that the Vietnam Bishops' Council's selection of Vinh Diocese as the venue for the first annual conference in 2023 affirmed its recognition and trust in the pastoral direction of the Vinh Diocese Bishop's Office, headed by Bishop Nguyen Huu Long; and trust in the love and faith in God of the Vinh Diocese's community of God's people.

Archbishop Marek Zalewski - Non-resident Representative of the Holy See in Vietnam; Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Nang - President of the Vietnam Bishops' Conference and Archbishops and Bishops at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Duy

Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy affirmed that the authorities at all levels of Nghe An province consider this a joy and an opportunity to meet all members of the Vietnam Bishops' Council; at the same time, express their support for the activities of the Catholic Church in Nghe An province.

The head of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee believes that the good results of the first annual conference in 2023 will promote the development of the Church and promote cooperation; at the same time, he believes that the results will implement and spread the wise instructions of the conference to all dioceses of the Catholic Church in Vietnam.

Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long - Bishop of Vinh Diocese and other Bishops at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Duy

Congratulating and sharing the joy with Vinh Diocese on the inauguration and putting into use of the Pastoral Center, Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy believes that this is a sacred common home for the community of God's people of Vinh Diocese.

On this occasion, Nghe An Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy informed Archbishop Marek Zalewski, Cardinal Peter Nguyen Van Nhon and Archbishops and Bishops in the Vietnam Bishops' Conference of Vietnam about some key features of the province; thereby affirming that, in addition to the efforts of the political system, Nghe An province highly appreciated and sincerely thanked the contributions of the Catholic community, Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long, Auxiliary Bishop Peter Nguyen Van Vien and priests and religious in the whole province.

Leaders of Nghe An province presented flowers to congratulate the success of the first annual conference in 2023 of the Vietnam Bishops' Council. Photo: Thanh Duy

Bishops, priests, and monks have reminded and encouraged followers to well implement the Party's guidelines, policies, and laws of the State; the province's development policy; at the same time, together with the province, organized many social security, charity, humanitarian activities, and patriotic emulation movements such as: "All people unite to build a cultural life in residential areas", "building new rural areas", "building peaceful Catholic hamlets"; encouraged followers to actively develop the economy, contributing to quickly reducing the rate of poor households and increasing the number of rich households.

The Standing Committee of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee presented the Vinh Diocese Bishop's Palace with a statue of the Virgin Mary on the occasion of the inauguration of the Vinh Diocese Pastoral Center. Photo: Thanh Duy

The Secretary of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee affirmed: The coordination relationship between the Vinh Diocese Bishopric and the Nghe An Provincial Government is increasingly close, trusting each other and achieving very good results. The legitimate and legal religious needs in the Vinh Diocese have basically been resolved in accordance with legal policies, in accordance with reality and quickly. From 2018 to now, the government has approved the establishment of 17 parishes, 4 sub-parishes; allocated land, and granted land use right certificates to 24 religious establishments.

Based on those good results, Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy affirmed: The province consistently implements the viewpoint of the Party and State of Vietnam to respect and ensure freedom of belief and religion, and ensure the activities of religious organizations.

Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Nang - President of the Vietnam Bishops' Council spoke at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Duy

In the coming time, Nghe An province will continue to pay close attention to resolving religious needs thoroughly, effectively, in accordance with the law, reasonably and logically to create conditions for religious communities in general and Catholicism in particular to have the best conditions to conduct religious activities under permitted conditions.

On this occasion, on behalf of the leaders of Nghe An province, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Thai Thanh Quy respectfully thanked Archbishop Marek Zalewski; Cardinal Nguyen Van Nhon, Archbishops and Bishops representing the Dioceses in Vietnam for their affection and attention to the community of God's people of Vinh Diocese in the past time, taking the time to welcome the delegation of the province; at the same time, he hoped that in the coming time, they will continue to pay more attention, guide and direct the activities of Vinh Diocese to both develop religion and contribute to the stability and socio-economic development of Nghe An province.

Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long - Bishop of Vinh Diocese spoke at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Duy

On behalf of the Vietnam Bishops' Council, Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Nang - President of the Vietnam Bishops' Council expressed his joy and honor to organize the 1st Annual Conference in 2023 of the Vietnam Bishops' Council in Nghe An province; as well as witness the development achievements of the province, in particular, the economic scale has ranked 10th in the country, in which, there are contributions from Christians in Vinh Diocese.

Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Nang informed the directions of the Catholic Church in Vietnam, in particular, always encouraging Catholics to contribute to the construction and development of the country; at the same time, living morally, justly, altruistically, generously; caring for the poor, abandoned, sick, ill... so that no one is left behind; thereby, developing moral and cultural values, making a positive and necessary contribution to the development of the country.

With sincere thanks to Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy and the provincial delegation for their visit and best wishes, Archbishop Giuse Nguyen Nang wished the province continued success and new achievements in the construction of Nghe An.

Panoramic view of the Vinh Diocese Pastoral Center just inaugurated. Photo: Thanh Duy

On behalf of the Vinh Diocese Bishop's Office, Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long sincerely thanked the provincial leaders for always paying attention and creating favorable conditions for the Vinh Diocese in the past time, as well as for visiting and congratulating the two important events today; at the same time, he hoped and believed that the relationship between the government and the Vinh Diocese Bishop's Office would develop better and better.