Across the country, those who could not leave were involved in a number of initiatives. Seminars and conferences for young people in the diocese were held in Ho Chi Minh City, Cần Thơ and Vinh. "We must study and work hard for our lives, families, society and local Church,” young Catholics say.
Ho Chi Minh City (AsiaNews) – The participation of young Vietnamese Catholics in the 34th World Youth Day (WYD) was marked by a "desire to learn and a spirit of prayer".
Mgr Peter Nguyễn Văn Viên, auxiliary bishop of Vinh and president of the Episcopal Commission for Youth, and Fr John Lê Quang Việt, led the Vietnamese delegation of 30 young men and women.
Throughout the country, parishes, dioceses and Catholic associations got those who could not leave for Central America involved in initiatives designed to promote a "spirit of communion" with the 100,000 pilgrims from 156 countries in the world.
For months, the young Vietnamese participants prepared for the WYD in Panama. "Already in March 2018, during Lent, we invited them to learn about the event,” Fr John Lê Quang Việt told AsiaNews.
“Since then, the Youth Ministry Office newsletter proposed them articles and documents about the event. Young men and women spoke about it and shared their opinions about the issues that would be dealt with at WYD."
The contribution the Vietnamese delegation brought to Panama can be summarised in the words ‘With Our Lady Maria, we respond yes!’ Vietnam’s Catholic youth always pray for world peace and today’s complex society."
During the WYD celebrations, the Tân Sơn Nhì district (Diocese of Ho Chi Minh City) organised a meeting entitled ‘Yes’. The aim of the initiative was to share ideas, testimonies and prayers.
The Diocese of Cần Thơ, in the Mekong Delta region, held a youth conference in order to strengthen youth ties with the Church.
Last week, Catholic students in the Diocese of Vinh (in north-central Vietnam) held a series of seminars on the theme ‘Youth, Faith and Vocation’ in Yên Đại parish.
Some of the participants noted that "In today's world, young people face many challenges. We have dreams, and we must study and work hard for our life, families, society and local Church."