Catholic Writers in Vietnam Focus on Ecumenical Issues Annual Writing Contest Celebrates Uplifting Stories Focusing on Relationships Between Catholics and Protestants
Vietnamese Diocese takes Fatima Message to Heart Half-a-million Catholics Pray for World Peace and Freedom to Practice Religion without State Intimidation
Church Leaders Promise Help for Typhoon Victims in Central Vietnam
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VIETNAMESE NEWS
October 10 , 2017 | The Valley Catholic
Catholic Writers in Vietnam Focus on Ecumenical Issues Annual Writing Contest Celebrates Uplifting Stories Focusing on Relationships Between Catholics and Protestants
Writers creating short stories focusing on unity and harmony between Catholics and Protestants were recognized for their efforts at an event held at a seminary in south central Vietnam , Sept . 21-22 .
As a part of an annual short story writing contest , 26 writers were awarded prizes by Qui Nhon Diocese ’ s Ministry Committee on Culture and Education during a ceremony held at Lang Song Seminary in Binh Dinh Province .
The contest – this year marking the 100th anniversary of Apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima and the 500th anniversary of the Reformation – drew nearly 100 writers under the age of 40 who sent in 175 works from around the country .
Among those winning a prize was Anna Duong Thi Thai Chan , who wrote about her mother becoming a Catholic .
Chan ’ s mother was a Protestant who became a Catholic to marry .
In her story , she wrote that her father , a Catholic , helped her mother overcome bigotry from her relatives and friends and helped teach her to embrace the Catholic faith .
Her parents built a happy marriage and a strong family which impressed others , revealing what it means to be Catholic .
One of the event ’ s organizers , Father Peter Vo Ta Khanh , said the competition is held to offer young Catholic writers opportunities to create work that helps integrate Christian values into the national culture .
Through their writing , the young people will also strengthen their faith and encourage them to seek humane and religious values in a society where materialism and consumerism are prevalent , said the priest . The contest has been running since 2013 .
Vietnamese Diocese takes Fatima Message to Heart Half-a-million Catholics Pray for World Peace and Freedom to Practice Religion without State Intimidation
In the face of growing state harassment , a diocese in northern Vietnam has launched a campaign to honor the message of Fatima , reciting the Rosary and praying for worldwide peace .
Local Catholics in Vinh Diocese have begun reflecting on the message of Fatima and reciting the Rosary since Sept . 25 , when the campaign was launched .
For the next month , Father Anthony Nguyen Van Dinh , head of Vinh Diocese ’ s Committee for Justice and Peace , said parish priests will teach Catholics the message of Fatima and Saint Pope John Paul ’ s Apostolic Letter “ The Rosary of the Virgin Mary .”
Father Dinh said the general message of Fatima – to amend one ’ s lives , recite the Rosary daily and show devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary – aims to obtain peace for the world and an end to war .
The priest said that local parishes and congregations will have daily Rosary sessions at their churches . Families
have also been asked to arrange convenient times for them to recite the Rosary .
Local priests have been asked to celebrate Masses and pray for peace on Oct . 13 , marking Blessed Mother Mary ’ s last apparition at Fatima .
“ We Christians should practice the message of Fatima , especially recite the Rosary diligently to bring real peace to the world , assist the nation ’ s escape from great calamities , and help people live in justice and freedom ,” said Father Dinh .
The priest said the challenges that Vietnam currently faces are many and Catholics need to pray to help resolve them .
Among the challenges , Father Dinh said , were environmental pollution , moral decline and a rudderless education system .
The country also faces high rates of abortion , uncontrolled corruption , and ruffian violence that seems to be abetted by the government to oppress religious groups , he said .
Vietnamese Catholics attend the feast of Assumption outside a cathedral in Nghe An province on August 15 . ( Photo by Hong Son Lam Giang ).
The campaign to recite the Rosary has been made while Catholics in the province are under pressure from the communist authorities .
Seven priests from Dong Thap Deanery in Nghe An Province have petitioned local authorities to punish police-backed thugs who threw stones at the homes of some local Catholics , damaging their properties . They also broke Marian statues during September . Government associations also raised national flags and banners and caused
Church Leaders Promise Help for Typhoon Victims in Central Vietnam
Some of the award winners at the 2017 Catholic short stories writing contest with a priest ( center ) during the award ceremony event held in a Vietnamese seminary . ( ucanews . com photo )
disorder around Dong Kieu Church . They also unsuccessfully sought to remove the church ’ s priest from the area .
Locals of the diocese covering three provinces of Nghe An , Ha Tinh and Quang Binh remain unable to eat seafood caught off their coast that was polluted by a toxic waste discharged by a Taiwanese-owned Formosa unit based in Ha Tinh Province last year .
Father Dinh said that the diocese ’ s 535,000 local Catholics will recite the Rosary with such local challenges in mind .
This year the Catholic Church marks the 100th anniversary of Apparitions Our Lady of Fatima in 1917 . The Blessed Mother Mary appeared to three shepherd children in Fatima , Portugal , in 1917 and told them three prophecies : of hell , the consecration of Russia and the death of a pope and other religious figures .
The second prophecy is widely believed to relate to the Second World War and the disintegration of the Soviet Union .
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Bishop Peter Nguyen Van Vien of Vinh says he will call on Caritas Vietnam to assist those affected by Typhoon Doksuri .
The Catholic Church is preparing to assist people affected by a powerful tropical storm that hit Vietnam ’ s central provinces on Sept . 15 .
Typhoon Doksuri hit six provinces from Thanh Hoa to Thua Thien Hue , killing eight people and injuring just as many in a disaster that has also left tens of thousands homeless and damaged 126,000 houses , according to official reports . The provinces of Ha Tinh and Quang Binh were the areas most affected .
Auxiliary Bishop Peter Nguyen Van
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A man makes repairs to his roof in Quang Binh Province on Sept . 16 a day after it was hit by a typhoon . ( Photo courtesy of Father Peter Than Van Chinh ).
Vien of Vinh and some priests visited three parishes in Quang Binh Province on Sept . 16 . Bishop Vien consoled
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those suffering from the typhoon and prayed that they overcome their difficulties soon .
The prelate also asked local priests to make account of the damages in the province . Bishop Vien promised to call on Caritas Vietnam and other Catholic benefactors to support victims .
Father Peter Than Van Chinh , pastor of Lien Hoa Parish , said around 200 households were submerged in flood water and that many of their homeless occupants were staying in the local church for safety .
“ We are cleaning and repairing our houses . We have no electricity and lack medicine , drinking water and food ,” Father Chinh said .
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The priest blamed the drastic weather on climate change . “ Before the typhoon , this area suffered drought but now it is inundated by water ,” he said .
Saint Paul de Chartres Sister Mary Doan Thi Thu from the Vung An community in Ha Tinh Province , said , “ We are taking account of the damage and asking people from other places to give emergency aid to victims who are homeless .”
The nun said people need rice , drinking water , medicine , clothes , blankets and building materials to repair and rebuild houses .
This is the fourth storm to hit the area this year , she said .
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