Spring is here, present in the bright colors of peach blossoms, permeating every alley and village, in the sound of church bells ringing along with joyful hymns praying for a peaceful and happy life. In harmony with the cultural flow of the nation, the traditional Tet holiday for Catholics is also an occasion for families to gather, for descendants to reunite, to remember their ancestors, for parishioners to meet, to wish each other well and to pray for world peace, prosperity and happiness.
Catholics in Ha Thach commune, Phu Tho town hang the national flag every Lunar New Year.
In the joyful atmosphere of the last days of the year, together with Catholics in the province, parishioners of Ha Thach Parish, Phu Tho town are also busy preparing to welcome the new year. In addition to decorating their houses, they also gather at the church, decorating the space inside and outside the church splendidly and brightly, ready for the first mass of the new year.
Ha Thach Parish currently has nearly 4,000 parishioners and 5 parishes. Over the years, with the spirit of "Respecting God, loving the country, living a good life, and following the religion", parishioners have constantly strived to overcome difficulties and rise up in socio-economic development, solidarity, and exemplary performance in all activities and movements, contributing to building the cultural life in the locality.
Sharing about the activities of parishioners every Lunar New Year, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Sang, Hung Thao area said: The first 3 days of the new year are also 3 important days for us parishioners. On the 1st day, the church will hold a mass, families will gather at the church to pick the branches together, then they will go to the houses of brothers and relatives to celebrate the new year. The mass on the 2nd day is to remember and pray for ancestors. The 3rd day is to ask for blessings to bless work, hope for a bountiful harvest, smooth and successful work. All parishioners wear the most beautiful and solemn clothes with a relaxed and happy soul to go to church.
People chat and wish each other a happy new year.
Comrade Ha Thi Phuong Thu - Vice Chairman of Ha Thach Commune People's Committee shared: What is especially valuable is that the parishioners have a very high spirit of solidarity and consensus. The traditional Tet holiday for Catholics also has the meaning of a festival of kindness and sharing when parishioners carry out "charitable" activities, giving gifts to families in difficult circumstances in the commune with the resources mobilized and supported within the parishioner community. Over the years, Catholics have always complied well with the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's laws and policies, and implemented regulations during the Lunar New Year, contributing to maintaining security, order and social safety in the locality".
Following the Red River, from Ha Thach Parish we arrived at Bai Dong Parish, Xuan Huy Commune, Lam Thao District. This year's Tet seems to have come earlier for the parishioners here as Zone 3 - where more than 90% of the population are Catholics - has just been recognized as a model new rural residential area, finishing earlier than planned.
Putting aside the hustle and bustle of work, these days, in addition to cleaning the village roads and alleys, hanging the national flag, the houses of the parishioners are also decorated with peach blossoms, kumquat trees, flowers, and ornamental plants. Christmas decorations such as pine trees, electric lights, nativity scenes, etc. are still kept intact until the Lunar New Year. The Tet atmosphere fills the village, alleys, gardens, and even the houses; the wood stove is red hot, fatty meat, pickled onions, bamboo strips, sticky rice, and dong leaves are all ready.
Parishioners of Bai Dong Parish walked together on the new road, enjoying the spring atmosphere.
Like other parishes, on the last day of the old year, in the evening, parishioners here will gather at the church to pray together. After finishing, parishioners will go home to celebrate New Year's Eve and pray at their families. Catholics do not consider good or bad days, there is no custom of entering the house first, choosing the age, for them, any day that they do many good deeds is a good day.
Ms. Tran Kim Sinh - Head of the residential area said: "The parishioners are always united in the activities and movements of the locality in general and the residential area in particular, promoting the spirit of voluntary contribution and support of over 700 million VND to build new rural areas. This Tet, the residential area has a spacious and spacious cultural house to organize activities to celebrate the Spring Festival, has wide roads that are 100% concreted, and village roads and alleys are all equipped with lighting to meet the travel and entertainment needs of the people during Tet as well as in daily life".
Another Spring has come, the bustling and joyful atmosphere has spread throughout the church, the hearts of parishioners are warmer when they reunite with family and relatives and participate in exciting and meaningful activities in the locality, welcoming a new year of peace and happiness, living the gospel in the hearts of the nation, contributing to building the homeland of the Fatherland to become more and more prosperous and civilized.
Thu Huong
Source: https://baophutho.vn/dong-bao-cong-giao-don-tet-co-truyen-227068.htm
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