Assembly to build the "house of the Church" in a rapidly changing Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City (AsiaNews) - For the first time in the history of the Church in this country, yesterday all the members of the people of Gof from around Vietnam came together for the opening of the General Assembly of the People of God, Perhaps the most significant moment of the jubilee year of the Vietnamese Church.
As part of the Jubilee, which commemorates 350 years since the arrival of Catholicism in Vietnam and 50 years since the establishment of the national hierarchy, the Assembly will, in the words of the President of the Vietnamese bishops' conference, Msgr. Nguyen Van Nhon, build through dialogue communion in the Church and build the community.
Organised by the pastoral centre of the diocese of Saigon, the Assembly opened yesterday afternoon and continue until 25th of this month. More than 300 representatives from throughout the Church, including bishops from 26 dioceses, priests, lay people and international guests were welcomed (pictured) in the cathedral of Notre Dame.
The Assembly is an opportunity to help the Church's journey in the new reality of a country that is rapidly changing and constantly developing, with the aim of building "the house of the Vietnamese Church."
"We - as Msgr. Van Nohon said - are invited to join our efforts with the Holy Spirit to build communion in the Church through practicable and feasible ways. This is dialogue. We dialogue with one another by humanity, culture and especially the truth of charity to build our community. We also need regular dialogue with God in prayers".
Ahead of the Assembly, numerous Vietnamese Catholics, scattered over 80 countries around the world, wrote to organizers of the great meeting. Through www.daihoidanchua.net and ykien@daihoidanchua.net they have posted comments, thoughts and ideas to contribute to guidelines, missions, pastoral and social activities of the Vietnamese bishops, in the near future. In the belief that the Assembly is an opportunity to pray together for our Church, for all the people of God and for the development of our nation.
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