The Vinh Diocese Bishop's Palace visited and extended New Year greetings to the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Fatherland Front Committee of the province.

Receiving the delegation from Nghe An province were comrades: Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Nguyen Van Thong - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.

Also attending were members of the Provincial Party Standing Committee: Le Hong Vinh - Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Nguyen Thi Thu Huong - Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department; Vo Thi Minh Sinh - Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province; Ngoc Kim Nam - Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Department; Major General Vo Trong Hai - Director of the Provincial Police Department; Colonel Nguyen Ngoc Ha - Commander of the Provincial Military Command; Nguyen Thi Kim Chi - Secretary of Cua Lo Town Party Committee and leaders of a number of departments, agencies and branches of the province.

Overview of the reception of the Vinh Diocese's delegation to visit and extend New Year greetings to the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province. Photo: Thanh Duy

On behalf of the Vinh Diocese, Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long expressed his joy when visiting and wishing a happy new year to the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province.

Looking back over the past year, Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long was pleased to see that the relationship between the provincial authorities at all levels, the Bishop's Palace, the Bishop himself, and Catholics in general was very good, warm, and affectionate.

“You always listen to the wishes of our Catholic people; when we encounter difficulties, you pay great attention to resolve them in a reasonable and fair manner,” the Bishop of Vinh Diocese shared: “That shows the concern and affection of the Nghe An provincial government for Catholic people.”

Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long talks with Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy. Photo: Thanh Duy

Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long affirmed: Over the past year, Catholics have always been aware and responsible, together with the people, under the leadership of the government, to carry out the work of preventing and fighting the Covid-19 pandemic and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters; at the same time, he expressed his gratitude when the provincial government made every effort to help the people overcome the difficulties caused by the impact of natural disasters. Especially the sacrifices of officers and soldiers of the army and police, regardless of hardship, day and night, etc.

Congratulating the province's achievements in the past year in the fields of politics, socio-economy, security and national defense; preparing to welcome the Lunar New Year 2021, on behalf of Vinh Diocese, Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long wished the province to have many more good results in the new year; wishing the 13th National Congress of the Party a great success, bringing many new directions for the country to continue moving forward.

Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long congratulates the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province on the New Year. Photo: Thanh Duy

On behalf of the leaders of Nghe An province, Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy expressed his joy to welcome Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long and his delegation to visit and congratulate the province on the eve of the New Year of Tan Suu.

Emphasizing that in just a few months, the province has twice welcomed the delegation of the Bishop's House to visit and congratulate the province, the Provincial Party Secretary expressed that this demonstrated the warm and affectionate feelings of the Church, the Bishop's House, the Bishop, priests, and religious towards the province and sent his sincere thanks to Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long and the delegation.

Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy informed the Bishop of Vinh Diocese and the delegation about some basic and outstanding results of the province in 2020 - a year when the province faced extremely difficult conditions due to the Covid-19 pandemic and severe natural disasters.

Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long presents a New Year gift to the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee. Photo: Thanh Duy

Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long presents New Year gifts to the People's Committee of Nghe An province. Photo: Thanh Duy

These results were achieved thanks to the province's promotion of the spirit of solidarity and unity; the dynamic and flexible management of the Party Committee and government; the efforts of the entire political system of the province; the enthusiastic and regular support of the Central Government; and the very important contributions of the Bishops, dignitaries, priests, monks and Catholics in the province.

With the direction of the Church, over the past year, Catholics in the province have well implemented the policies of the Party, State and province. The relationship and coordination between parishes, deaneries, priests and provincial Party committees and authorities at all levels have become increasingly trusting, close, and work has been handled more effectively; the atmosphere of harmony and excitement has spread, especially during the recent Christmas.

The Secretary of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee respectfully thanked the very valuable contributions of the Bishop, dignitaries and priests to the development of Nghe An province in the past year. In particular, with his prestige, he has encouraged parishioners to carry out campaigns and major programs of the State and the province such as: the movement to build new rural areas, build cultural life in residential areas; coordinate with localities to carry out social security activities, participate in supporting the prevention and control of Covid-19, support to overcome the consequences of floods in the Central region...

Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy talks with Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long. Photo: Thanh Duy

Preparing to celebrate the traditional New Year of the nation, the Provincial Party Secretary said that the province has organized the Tet For The Poor program and has received contributions of more than 89 billion VND to support poor and near-poor households to celebrate the New Year.

In the coming time, Comrade Thai Thanh Quy hopes that the Bishop, priests, dignitaries, and monks, in their positions and responsibilities, will continue to guide the Church and Catholics in the province to continue promoting the tradition of patriotism, accompanying the nation, building a life of "good life, good religion", "respecting God and loving the country"; and sharing and connecting more closely with the government in solving related issues.

Provincial leaders presented souvenirs to the Vinh Diocese Bishop's Palace. Photo: Thanh Duy

The Provincial Party Secretary affirmed: The province will continue to accompany the Bishop's Office, dioceses, and parishes to resolve related issues in accordance with the policies of the Party and State, and in a reasonable and emotional manner, meeting the legitimate needs and aspirations of Catholics in the province.

On the occasion of preparing to celebrate the traditional New Year of the nation, the Provincial Party Secretary wished Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long and his delegation good health, happiness, and fullness of God's grace.

Thanh Duy