Catholics in Vietnam ’ s North Provide Aid to Flood Victims ; More Than 70 Have Died in the Worst Flooding to Hit the Country in Years
Catholic Woman Arrested for Subverting the State in Vietnam
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VIETNAMESE NEWS
Hôm nay , Thứ Hai ngày 23 tháng 10 năm 2017 , Đại Hội Linh Mục Việt Nam – Hành Trình Emmaus VII chính thức khai mạc với Thánh Lễ trọng thể tại Vương Cung Thánh Đường Chính Tòa Thánh Giuse , Thành Phố San Jose . Đức Cha Patrick J . McGrath , Giám Mục San Jose , chủ sự và thuyết giảng Thánh Lễ ; Cùng đồng tế với Ngài có Đức Cha Oscar A . Solis , Giám Mục Giáo Phận Salt Lake City , Utah , Chủ Tịch Đa Văn Hoá Châu Á Thái Bình Dương , trực thuộc Hội Đồng Giám Hoa Kỳ , và quý Cha trong Liên Liên Đoàn và tham dự Emmaus . Đức Ông Giuse Trịnh Minh Trí , Chủ Tịch Liên Đoàn Công Giáo Việt Nam tại Hoa Kỳ , cùng với Lm Giuse Đồng Minh Quang , Trưởng Ban
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November 7 , 2017 | The Valley Catholic
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Đại Hội Linh Mục Việt Nam được tổ chức 2 năm một lần tại các tiểu bang Hoa Kỳ nhằm tạo điều kiện cho các Linh mục Việt Nam gặp gỡ , chia sẻ kinh nghiệm , khuyến khích và nâng đỡ nhau trong việc phục vụ Giáo Hội và mọi người . Hành Trình Emmaus VII có hơn171 Giám Mục và Linh Mục tham dự đến từ các Tiểu Bang Hoa Kỳ , Taiwain , Canada , Thái Lan và Việt Nam . Ban Tổ Chức và Cộng Đồng Dân Chúa Vùng Bay Area vui mừng chào đón quý Đức Cha , quý Đức Ông và quý Cha trở lại Thung Lũng Hoa Vàng ( Silicon Valley ) sau 8 năm kề từ Hành Trình Emmaus III năm 2009 . ucanews . com reporter , Yen Bai Vietnam
Caritas workers have rushed relief aid to victims of large-scale flooding and landslides in Vietnam ’ s northern provinces .
Large parts of the country ’ s northern and northwest provinces were flooded by heavy rains from Oct . 10-12 and then further battered by Typhoon Khanun which hit Oct . 16 .
The National Center for Hydro- Meteorological Forecasting said that the disastrous weather left 77 dead and 38 injured . More than 20 people remain missing . Nearly 250 houses collapsed and more than 2,000 households were evacuated .
The floods , the worst in years , damaged 75,600 hectares of rice and other
Catholics in Vietnam ’ s North Provide Aid to Flood Victims ; More Than 70 Have Died in the Worst Flooding to Hit the Country in Years
crops and large numbers of livestock also perished .
Bishop Joseph Nguyen Van Yen , deputy head of Caritas Vietnam , said on Oct . 16 he assisted efforts delivering aid to flood victims in Chi Ne district of Hoa Binh province .
“ We saw many places in the district still inundated . We had to travel by boat to offer instant noodles , rice , blankets and money to survivors to help them overcome hunger and the cold weather ,” Bishop Yen said .
Dozens of churches and facilities were inundated , he said .
Caritas workers in Ha Noi Archdiocese , led by Father Bruno Pham Ba Que , supplied 1,250 relief packages to flood survivors .
Father Joseph Nguyen Trong Duong , parish priest of Nghia Lo in Yen Bai Province , said local Catholics offered
Bishop Joseph Nguyen Van Yen , second from left , delivers supplies with Caritas workers to a flooded home in Vietnam ’ s Hoa Binh Province on Oct . 16 .
relief aid to 24 families including Thai ethnic people at Pu Trang sub parish after the floods . Many of the Thai people had lost most of their possessions .
Father Duong said Caritas workers
Catholic Woman Arrested for Subverting the State in Vietnam
from other areas assisted with relief efforts . They supplied both aid and money to flood victims who have had to deal with other flooding disasters this year .
“ Survivors of other faiths were moved to tears when they received supplies from Caritas workers who were the first people to console them ,” he said .
The priest added that local churches are currently raising funds to further help flood victims .
Thirty bishops who attended a national meeting in Thanh Hoa Bishop ’ s House on Oct . 12 , visited and offered aid to An Loc parishioners who were struggling with difficulties caused by the floods .
Vietnam is prone to destructive storms and flooding due to its long coastline . The country has been hit by 11 typhoons this year .
Thousands of Catholics praying for Teresa Tran Thi Xuan at Cua Sot Church on Oct . 18 . ( Photo by Duc Nguyen )
Catholics in a central Vietnamese province have expressed support for a female activist who was arrested for “ attempting to overthrow the government .”
Teresa Tran Thi Xuan , a member of Cua Soc Parish , was arrested while traveling to work in her home province of Ha Tinh on Oct . 17 .
The Ha Tinh Provincial Public Security Department accused Xuan of “ acting to overthrow the people ’ s government under Article 79 of the Penal Code .”
The department said Xuan is a member of the Brotherhood for Democracy , a domestic civil society which the government sees as reactionary group acting to overthrow the communist state .
The 41-year-old was accused of causing public disorder , infringing upon national security , resisting the Communist Party , calling for protests and conducting voluntary activities among young people .
On Oct . 18 , thousands of Catholics attended a candle-lit prayer to pray for Xuan ’ s justice at Cua Sot Church . They also raised banners saying “ Tran Thi Xuan innocent ! Free her !”
Others voiced their concerns to ucanews . com .
“ We strongly oppose the government arresting Xuan , who actively gives material and spiritual support to poor people and natural disaster victims ,” a local Catholic woman said .
She said Xuan has done nothing wrong except for helping the poor . “ Can an honest and direct woman attempt to overthrow the ruling system ?” she asked .
Some local Catholics said Xuan actively did charitable work in the parish . She and young people in the parish collected used items to sell to support people in need . They also spoke out against Taiwanese firm Formosa , which was responsible for a massive toxic waste spill in the province .
“ We demand the government release her ,” another Catholic said .
Vietnam ’ s communist government tolerates little criticism and has arrested 20 activists and dissidents this year .