The Bishop's Office of the Vinh Diocese visits and extends New Year greetings to Nghe An province.

The delegation was led by Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long, Bishop of the Vinh Diocese. The delegation included Bishop Peter Nguyen Van Vien, Auxiliary Bishop of the Vinh Diocese, along with priests, clergy, nuns, and heads of centers within the Vinh Diocese.

Receiving the delegation were the leaders of Nghe An province, including: Nguyen Duc Trung - Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Le Hong Vinh - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; along with other members of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and leaders of departments and agencies.

Visiting and extending congratulations to the Provincial Party Committee, Provincial People's Council, Provincial People's Committee, and Provincial Fatherland Front on the occasion of the upcoming Lunar New Year 2025, Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long expressed his joy at the achievements that Nghe An province has made in socio-economic development and national defense and security in 2024, under the wise and enthusiastic leadership of the provincial leaders and all levels of government.

Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long respectfully expresses his gratitude to the Party committees and authorities of the province for their great attention, support, and timely guidance in resolving religious issues, meeting the needs of the Vinh Diocese and its affiliated organizations, and achieving very positive results.

Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long expressed his hope that in the future, he would continue to receive the attention of Party committees and authorities at all levels so that the lives of the people in general and Catholic compatriots in particular would become even better.

Expressing his approval and confidence in the policies and guidelines that the province has planned for 2025, Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long affirmed that he will always remind and encourage the people and clergy to strictly abide by the policies and guidelines of the Party committee and the government, thereby bringing about a better life.

Looking ahead to the Year of the Snake 2025, Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long stated that Catholics have just begun a holy year with the meaning of embracing many hopes.

The Bishop of the Vinh Diocese wished the provincial leaders a New Year filled with good health, peace, and wisdom to guide the people towards a bright future; and wished that all the plans and directions set forth by the country and the province would bring positive results to the lives of the people.

Expressing his pleasure at welcoming the delegation from the Vinh Diocese Bishopric to visit and extend New Year greetings, on behalf of the provincial leadership, Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Duc Trung conveyed his sincere thanks and best wishes for the New Year to Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long and the priests, religious, and Catholic people of the province.

The Provincial Party Secretary also affirmed that the provincial Party committee and government sincerely thank the Bishopric, Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long, and the priests for their leadership and guidance of the Catholic community over the years in the spirit of "Reverence for God and love for the country," following the motto "Live a good life and uphold moral values," and "A good Catholic is a good citizen," thereby making important contributions to the province's development.

Sharing some of the province's outstanding achievements, Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Duc Trung said that, in addition to economic development, the province has devoted many resources to caring for social welfare. To date, the province has correctly implemented the Party and State's policy of caring for and ensuring that all citizens can celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) happily and prosperously.

As an annual tradition, in 2024 the province organized the "Tet for the Poor" program with the theme "The Compassion of the Lam River People," and to date, the program has mobilized over 147 billion VND from contributions by agencies, units, the business community, philanthropists, and the people to care for Tet and livelihoods for people in the area, including Catholic communities. The province also organized many delegations to visit, encourage, and give Tet gifts to people in many areas.

In addition, implementing the program to mobilize support for the construction and repair of housing for poor and disadvantaged households, over the past two years, the province has built and repaired more than 12,000 houses, including some for Catholic communities. The province strives to complete the program before August 31, 2025.

Highly appreciating the achievements of the Vinh Diocese in 2024, the Provincial Party Secretary affirmed that, with affection and responsibility, the Party committees and authorities at all levels have always paid attention to and promptly resolved issues related to religion, especially legitimate and lawful needs.

This achievement was made possible through the cooperative, shared, and collaborative relationship between the Party committees and authorities at all levels with the Vinh Diocese and the Catholic community of the province.

Emphasizing that in 2025, the province is determined to accelerate and make breakthroughs to develop more strongly, contributing positively to the overall development of the country, alongside existing favorable conditions, Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Duc Trung hoped that the Vinh Diocese Bishopric would continue to lead the Catholic community in building a better Nghe An homeland.

At the same time, we must build solidarity and promote the traditional cultural values ​​of the Vietnamese people in general, and the culture of Nghe An province in particular, in order to maintain a truly peaceful and stable environment for development. This development will bring a better life to all people in the province, including the Catholic community.

Looking ahead, Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Duc Trung affirmed that the province will always stand alongside and create favorable conditions for the Vinh Diocese Bishopric and Catholic parishioners to operate smoothly in accordance with legal regulations; and at the same time, hopes that the Vinh Diocese Bishopric will guide Catholic parishioners to celebrate Tet safely, healthily, and joyfully.

On the occasion of the New Year and in preparation for the traditional Tet holiday of the Year of the Snake 2025, the Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Duc Trung sends his best wishes to Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long and all bishops, priests, dignitaries, religious figures, and all Catholic compatriots in the province for a new year filled with happiness, joy, and abundant blessings from God.