Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long - Bishop of Vinh Diocese was the head of the delegation. Also attending were Bishop Peter Nguyen Van Vien - Auxiliary Bishop of Vinh Diocese and priests and religious.
Receiving the delegation, on the side of Nghe An province, there were comrades: Thai Thanh Quy - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation; 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; Hoang Nghia Hieu - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; and comrades in the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and leaders of a number of departments and branches of the province.
In the joyful atmosphere of the nation's Tet Giap Thin 2024, on behalf of the delegation, Bishop Alphong Nguyen Huu Long expressed his great honor and joy to visit and congratulate the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province and departments, branches and sectors; and was happy with the achievements in all fields that the province has achieved in the past year.
The Bishop of Vinh Diocese said that in 2023, more than 300,000 Catholics of the diocese were very excited and happy about the very good development of the relationship between Vietnam and the Vatican City. In particular, the two sides have upgraded the relationship from non-resident representative of the Vatican City to permanent representative. Accordingly, the Vatican has appointed and announced Archbishop Marek Zalewski as the Permanent Representative of the Holy See in Vietnam.
Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long emphasized: That shows understanding, concern, and creates favorable conditions for the relationship between the Vietnamese State and the Vatican to develop more and more; at the same time, it opens up new routes for high-level visits by the Vatican's leaders to Vietnam; in which it is expected that Pope Francis will visit Vietnam in the near future.
Through the Bishops, Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long informed about the very good relationship in 27 Catholic dioceses nationwide with the government; in which Vinh Diocese was very happy that the government had granted land to build a new church of Cau Ram Parish, Vinh City.
Having reported this very good work of the Nghe An provincial government for Catholics to the Vatican and the Vietnamese Bishops' Council, the Bishop of Vinh Diocese affirmed his determination to build a new Cau Ram Parish Church worthy of not only being a religious building, but also a cultural and artistic building that enhances the beauty and importance of Vinh City and Nghe An province at home and abroad.
With that, Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long sincerely thanks the leaders and authorities of Nghe An province for their understanding, care, and favorable conditions for Catholics.
In the joy of welcoming the new Spring, Bishop Alphong Nguyen Huu Long wished Nghe An province to achieve more good achievements in all fields in the year of Giap Thin 2024, especially effectively implementing Resolution No. 39 of the Politburo on building and developing Nghe An province to 2030, with a vision to 2045.
On behalf of the provincial leaders, Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy expressed his great joy in welcoming the delegation of the Vinh Diocese Bishop's Office to visit and celebrate the traditional New Year of the nation; respectfully sent sincere thanks and best wishes to the Bishops, priests and religious.
The Provincial Party Secretary was pleased to note that on the occasion of the 2024 Giap Thin New Year - a long-standing and beautiful cultural custom of the Vietnamese people, the Vinh Diocese and Nghe An province both have much good news.
The head of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee saw that, over the past year, Vinh Diocese has made many advances in all aspects and expressed his deep impression of the recognition and trust of the Catholic Church in Vietnam in the pastoral direction of the Vinh Diocese through the organization of large and meaningful activities, including the very successful organization of the First Annual Conference, 2023 of the Vietnam Bishops' Council.
Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy also shared his joy when the majority of priests, monks and Catholics in the province always follow the motto: "respect God and love the country", the way of life "good life, good religion", actively contributing to the socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security of the province.
At the national and international levels, the head of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee was pleased to receive the news that the Vatican had appointed and announced Archbishop Marek Zalewski as the Permanent Representative of the Vatican in Vietnam. This will be a very important premise to contribute to promoting the connection between the Holy See and the Catholic Church in Vietnam; at the same time, promoting exchanges between Vietnam and the Holy See.
Noting that recently, on behalf of the Vietnamese State, President Vo Van Thuong signed a letter inviting Pope Francis to visit Vietnam to witness the socio-economic development as well as religious life in Vietnam, the Secretary of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee affirmed: This is a common joy, demonstrating the very good progress of the relationship between Vietnam and the Vatican.
The head of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee also expressed his excitement that the coordination between Bishops, priests, monks, and Catholics with the provincial Party Committees and authorities at all levels is increasingly strengthened, with more mutual trust.
Many priests have sincerely contributed ideas and informed the provincial authorities about the difficulties and obstacles in the process of managing and operating religious activities; thereby, having a common voice in resolving legitimate religious aspirations and needs, creating a very good premise for completing the tasks of the province as well as the Bishop's Office; the non-Catholics and Catholics of the province have the conditions to develop the economy, strive to become rich, and escape poverty.
Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy respectfully congratulated the Vinh Diocese, dignitaries, officials and Catholics throughout the province on a very warm and joyful Christmas. The Christmas atmosphere has spread widely, becoming a common joy for many classes of people.
The head of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee affirmed: The delegation of Vinh Diocese led by Bishop Alphonsus Nguyen Huu Long, with the participation of the auxiliary bishop, and a large number of priests and religious to visit and wish a Happy New Year to the Party Committee, government and people of Nghe An province, further affirming the warm, sincere and affectionate relationship and affection of the Party Committee, government of the church, bishops, priests, religious and Catholic compatriots towards the province.
On that basis, entering 2024, he hopes that Nghe An province and the Vinh Diocese will continue to connect and support each other to fulfill the tasks of the province and the Diocese, and participate in promoting socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security, and improving the lives of the people, including Catholics.
Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy said that in 2023, overcoming difficulties and disadvantages, the province has achieved very important and comprehensive achievements in all fields of politics, economy, culture, society, national defense, security, and foreign affairs; at the same time, he informed about the work of taking care of people to celebrate Lunar New Year 2024, especially for the disadvantaged.
Accordingly, Nghe An province has focused on directing the assurance of security and safety for people to enjoy a joyful Spring Festival; providing adequate, quality and affordable supply of essential goods to remote areas; especially successfully organizing the program "Tet for the poor - Giap Thin 2024" with a donation amount of more than 142 billion VND, thereby ensuring support for each poor household in the province of at least 500,000 VND.
On behalf of the Party Committee and provincial government, Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy respectfully sends to Bishop of Vinh Diocese Alphonse Nguyen Huu Long, Auxiliary Bishop Peter Nguyen Van Vien, priests, religious and Catholics of the province his congratulations on the occasion of the traditional New Year of the Dragon.
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