Christmas in Bắc Ninh: music and solidarity to bear witness to the birth of Jesus
by J.B. Vu
The diocese is promoting music courses to enliven the season’s Masses. In every parish, dances, sacred songs and plays will tell the story of the Saviour “born in a cave in Bethlehem”. Activities are open to atheists and believers of other religions. Funds are raised for the poor and needy, including non-Christians.
Hanoi (AsiaNews) – In this period of Advent, all the parishes in the Diocese of Bắc Ninh, northern Vietnam, are promoting music courses to teach Christmas carols in order to “stay with God”. Once their course is completed, the singers will return to their respective communities, and will continue rehearsing for Christmas Eve when they will bring joy and cheer to the faithful and Christmas celebrations. Parish churches will bring music, dance, sacred songs and plays inspired by “Jesus born in the Bethlehem Cave”.
Bắc Ninh province is very poor, but is rich in solidarity and friendship between Catholics and people of other religions or no religion, which is how locals are able to face emergencies and hardships.
Mgr Cosma Hoàng Văn Đạt, bishop of Bắc Ninh, told AsiaNews that the artistic initiative is very important, because “Christmas provides a splendid opportunity to have people learn about Jesus, especially those who do not know God”.
On the eve, “hundreds of thousands of Catholics and non-Catholics will go to church to hear sacred music and watch plays,” said the prelate. “We shall pray to the Virgin Mary and the martyrs of the diocese that they may accompany us during Christmas and the year 2012.”
In this period of Advent, young volunteers will also go around picking up garbage and unused materials to contribute to charities helping orphans and children living in difficulty.
Hung, one of the volunteers, said that he is involved in the activities of Huống Trung Parish. “In each family I get smiles and support for the initiative. This has helped me forget about the tiredness, humidity and cold wind that are so common in the northern provinces of Vietnam.”
“We split into small groups,” added Lan, “and with a smile on our lips we engaged in social activities helping people meet and know Jesus Christ.”
In anticipation of Christmas, the diocese has also organised a fundraiser to help people in need. Each parishioner offered 1,000 dong. Altogether some 300,000 dong (US$ 15) was raised to be distributed among the poor, Catholics and non-Catholics, irrespective of religion.
Bắc Ninh province is very poor, but is rich in solidarity and friendship between Catholics and people of other religions or no religion, which is how locals are able to face emergencies and hardships.
Mgr Cosma Hoàng Văn Đạt, bishop of Bắc Ninh, told AsiaNews that the artistic initiative is very important, because “Christmas provides a splendid opportunity to have people learn about Jesus, especially those who do not know God”.
On the eve, “hundreds of thousands of Catholics and non-Catholics will go to church to hear sacred music and watch plays,” said the prelate. “We shall pray to the Virgin Mary and the martyrs of the diocese that they may accompany us during Christmas and the year 2012.”
In this period of Advent, young volunteers will also go around picking up garbage and unused materials to contribute to charities helping orphans and children living in difficulty.
Hung, one of the volunteers, said that he is involved in the activities of Huống Trung Parish. “In each family I get smiles and support for the initiative. This has helped me forget about the tiredness, humidity and cold wind that are so common in the northern provinces of Vietnam.”
“We split into small groups,” added Lan, “and with a smile on our lips we engaged in social activities helping people meet and know Jesus Christ.”
In anticipation of Christmas, the diocese has also organised a fundraiser to help people in need. Each parishioner offered 1,000 dong. Altogether some 300,000 dong (US$ 15) was raised to be distributed among the poor, Catholics and non-Catholics, irrespective of religion.
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See also
Saigon: charity and mercy at Easter
14/04/2015
14/04/2015
