Patriotic emulation movement of Anh Son Catholic community

(Baonghean.vn) - In recent years, Anh Son Catholics have enthusiastically participated in emulation movements to build new rural areas, making significant contributions to the economic, social, defense and security development of the district.

In recent years, in each residential area, parishes and congregations in Anh Son have launched emulation movements "All people unite to build new rural areas and civilized urban areas", "living a good life, living a good religion". Catholics clearly identify their responsibility to "live the gospel in the heart of the nation", strive to rise up, deeply expressed in every activity of social life and religious activities; in economic development movements, helping each other to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty, get rich legitimately, and participate in building new rural areas.

Tea garden of parishioner Nguyen Van Canh - Dong Tram parish. Photo: Le Van Tri.

Catholic households in Anh Son have introduced high-income plants and animals into production, raising livestock, converting land from small plots to large plots, which is convenient for intensive farming, fertilization, and bringing mechanization into production. The most prominent feature of the Catholic community in Anh Son is the field of industry and service business. In 2012, there were only 37 models, but by 2017, there were 138 good business models.23 small and medium enterprises are doing business effectively. The dynamism and creativity are evaluated by the number of 1,539 Anh Son teachers who have gone far to work abroad, bringing an extremely large resource.

The average income per capita of Catholics is 25 - 27 million VND/person/year, 3 - 4 million VND higher than the district's average. By the end of 2016, the whole district had 5 communes reaching the new rural standard, of which 4 communes had Catholics. In 4 parishes and 18 congregations alone, people contributed 47 billion VND in cash, labor days, construction materials, moved and dismantled 8,000 m of fences, donated 7,500 m2 of land to build rural roads; renewed 2,154 m of canals; dug and renewed 3,297 m of intra-field roads to serve production.

The movement "All people unite to build a cultural life, live a good life and a good religion" is always reminded by parish priests, pastoral councils of parishes and sub-parishes to always remind grandparents, parents to live exemplary lives, advise children and grandchildren to live filial piety and be responsible to the community. Catholics always uphold the qualities of Christians, integrate with the community in all activities, be both good citizens and exemplary believers.

Tea processing workshop of parishioner Nguyen Chi Vy, Dong Tram parish, Dong Lam parish

The summary of the movements honored 77 households as exemplary Catholics, 419 households achieved the title of good production and business at all levels, honored 136 Catholic women for raising healthy children, teaching good children, 43 members of the Veterans Association for the movement of good economic performance, 166 Catholic union members were honored annually, the village and neighborhood relationships are always closely connected.

With the tradition of solidarity, love, and orderly living from family to church, Catholics in Anh Son have actively participated in the movement of solidarity to protect national security. The dissemination of legal education, cultural and civilized lifestyles has been regularly paid attention to by the Fatherland Front Committees at all levels in coordination with parish priests and pastoral councils. The annual summary of the movement of the entire people participating in protecting national security has honored 66 typical Catholics.

The humanitarian charity movement promotes the nation's tradition of charity, the humanitarian charity movement, helping the poor is considered by the people as a reasonable and moral thing to do. As a result, over the past 5 years, the Catholic people of Anh Son have contributed 2.7 billion VND to these activities.

With the light of the Party's policies, along with the light of Christ, Anh Son has a beautiful, sparkling picture for every national festival, every important holiday of the Catholic people, all as if wanting to speak of the land and people here, full of compassion, unanimity, consensus in thinking and working in solidarity, all for the goal of the homeland, country, parishes, churches and the church to develop together.

Le Van Tri

Anh Son District Fatherland Front Committee