Nghe An organizes the 6th Patriotic Emulation Congress among Catholics

Comrade Hoang Nghia Hieu - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council of Nghe An province attended, delivered a speech and presented flowers to congratulate the Congress. Also attending were Comrade Bui Thanh An - Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; representatives of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Council, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province...

Attending the Congress were Father Giuse Tran Xuan Manh - President of the Central Committee of Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics; representative of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Nghe An province and 205 typical delegates who are the fresh flowers honored from parishes and chapels throughout the province, representing more than 300,000 Catholic communities in the province.

Spread the spirit of "Living a good life, good religion"

Nghe An is one of the localities with a large Catholic population, with more than 307,000 believers, accounting for about 9% of the province's population.

In the period of 2020 - 2025, responding to the call for patriotic emulation of the Party, State and Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Catholic Solidarity Committee, Catholics in Nghe An province actively participated in emulation movements with the spirit of "Living the gospel in the heart of the nation", "Respecting God and loving the country", "Good Catholics are also good citizens".

Through concrete and practical actions, Catholics have made many outstanding contributions in the fields of economic development, helping each other to eliminate hunger, reduce poverty, build new rural areas and civilized urban areas; build cultural life; carry out charity and humanitarian work; participate in government building, maintain security and order; maintain moral lifestyles and promote cultural lifestyles in the community.

These contributions have become typical bright spots in the patriotic emulation movement, actively contributing to economic and social development, ensuring national defense and security and consolidating the great national unity bloc in the province.

One of the highlights is the active participation of Catholics in the movement to build new rural areas and civilized urban areas. In just the past 5 years, Catholics in the province have voluntarily donated more than 192,700 m² of land, dismantled 48,349 m of fences, cut down thousands of trees of all kinds, contributed 286,784 working days and more than 114.8 billion VND to build roads, cultural houses, schools, medical stations, etc.

The spirit of charity and sharing continues to be strongly promoted by Catholics in Nghe An through humanitarian and charitable activities. Over the past 5 years, Catholics across the province have donated and supported more than 24.3 billion VND for activities to support the poor, people in difficult circumstances, victims of natural disasters, epidemics, people with disabilities, victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, etc.

From the patriotic emulation movement, many typical examples have emerged: Catholic farmers overcoming difficulties to become good economic people; exemplary parishioners in building a cultural life and happy families; priests and dignitaries devotedly accompanying parishioners, actively encouraging parishioners to live a good life, practice religion and build their homeland.

Spread the patriotic emulation movement more strongly among Catholics

Speaking at the Congress, Comrade Hoang Nghia Hieu - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council of Nghe An province, on behalf of the provincial leaders acknowledged, highly appreciated, commended and warmly congratulated the achievements that outstanding collectives and individuals among the Catholic community have achieved in the past time.

He affirmed that the whole country is entering an era of development with high political determination and determination and drastic actions. After 40 years of implementing the Doi Moi process, our country's foundation, potential, position and international prestige have been increasingly enhanced. The 2-level local government organization model officially came into operation on July 1, 2025, with the motto "the government is closer to the people, serving better", associated with decentralization and delegation of power. Along with that is the spirit of emulation to achieve achievements to welcome the 20th Provincial Party Congress and the 14th National Party Congress.

Particularly, Nghe An, with its infrastructure foundation, socio-economic potential and convergence of important factors in terms of mechanisms, policies, human resources, culture, spirit, and experience to accelerate and make breakthroughs in development in the coming time, the province is striving to become the socio-economic center of the North Central region in the spirit of Resolution No. 39 of the Politburo on building and developing Nghe An province to 2030, with a vision to 2045.

To achieve that goal, the Standing Deputy Secretary of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee affirmed that it requires the cooperation and contribution of all classes of people, including the important role of religious people, especially Catholics.

He suggested and hoped that in the coming time, Catholics in the province would continue to promote the achieved results, unite and bond with the community, actively respond to and participate in patriotic emulation movements with the spirit of: "Respect God and love the country", "Live a good life and good religion", "A good Catholic is also a good citizen", continue to accompany local Party committees and authorities to well perform the political tasks of the province with practical actions; together with the people to well implement the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws.

At the same time, continue to try, strive to improve, contribute more to achieve more good results, worthy of being a shining example for everyone to follow. "Truly be the yeast, the salt, the light for life, together contributing to building the homeland and country to develop more sustainably, progress in all aspects", said comrade Hoang Nghia Hieu.

The Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Council of Nghe An province also requested Party committees at all levels, authorities, the Fatherland Front, and socio-political organizations in the province to continue to pay attention, accompany, and create favorable conditions for religious activities to take place in accordance with the law, promote positive values, and contribute to strengthening the great national unity bloc.

Quoting Uncle Ho's advice: "Emulation is patriotism, patriotism requires emulation and those who emulate are the most patriotic", he believes that the Congress will spread the patriotic emulation movement more strongly among Catholics, many bright examples will continue to be spread, many hearts will continue to be lit, together we will join hands to build our homeland Nghe An to become more and more prosperous and civilized.

Speaking at the Congress, Father Giuse Tran Xuan Manh - President of the Central Committee of the Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics expressed his joy, emotion and strong belief in the role and responsibility of the Catholic community of Nghe An in the cause of building and developing the homeland and country.

The President of the Central Committee of the Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics hopes that each delegate and parishioner will continue to have a correct awareness of their obligations and duties in building their homeland and country. Because "Vietnam is a multi-religious country, with many altars, but we only have one Fatherland, one homeland Vietnam." - The priest emphasized.

Affirming that the Vietnam Catholic Solidarity Committee is not a political organization but a social organization, a member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, a bridge between religion and life, the priest hopes that Party committees, authorities, and Fatherland Fronts at all levels will continue to create favorable conditions for Catholic organizations and Catholics to practice religion, live a good life, follow their religion, and contribute to the great unity of the entire nation.

The congress unanimously agreed to elect a delegation of 7 delegates to attend the National Patriotic Emulation Congress to commend good people and good deeds among Vietnamese Catholics.

The Congress approved the launch of a patriotic emulation movement among Catholics in Nghe An province for the period 2025-2030 and the response of representatives of Catholics in the province with a spirit of determination to carry it out.

On this occasion, the Vietnam Catholic Solidarity Committee awarded the "Accompanying the Nation" Medal to 22 individuals; the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee awarded Certificates of Merit to 9 collectives and 10 individuals and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province awarded Certificates of Merit to 4 collectives and 10 outstanding individuals.