by J.B. Vu

In response to the pope's appeal, a group of young people gather to read and study the sacred text. For Vietnamese priest, "it is fundamental to educate young people about family issues." Founded on the blood of the martyrs, his parish has become over the years a model for other Catholic communities in the south.

Ho Chi Minh City (AsiaNews) - In response to the appeal by Pope Francis made during the Angelus of 5 October, a hundred young people from Bien Hoa Parish in Dong Nai province (southern Vietnam) met to read and deepen their study of the Bible.

The young people wanted to share their life experiences. To do so, they organised moments of common prayer in order to strengthen their faith journey.

The parish's initiative is part of activities promoted by leaders of the local Catholic Church, who in May 2014 launched the "Year of Evangelisation in the family", starting with children and teenagers.

As Mgr Chau Ngoc Tri, chairman of the Commission for the pastoral care of the family of the Conference of Vietnamese Bishops, pointed out the goal is to take charge "of families in trouble, poor families, broken families where the parents are separated from each other."

Bien Hoa Parish is located in the city of Bien Hoa in southern Vietnam, which has a population of 183,000 people, including 14,389 Catholics (7.8 per cent).

Every year, hundreds of converts are baptised, with an average of about 220 catechumens.

Vice parish priest Fr Peter Nguyen Quang Khuong said that the local community was founded in 1863 and, over time, has had to face and endure numerous difficulties, including persecution at the times of the kings. "The blood of the martyrs," the priest said, "today is the seed of a vocation."

"Vietnamese youth must be educated on issues related to family and parenting so that they may be able to educate their own children," said Fr Philip Nguyen Huu Nang.

For this reason, he warned, the education of today's parents is essential to the education of children and their future.

Fr Dominique Nguyen Thu Truong agrees. The deputy parish priest heads the local youth ministry since 2013. In recent months, he has promoted meetings and seminars aimed at young people, to share experiences and moments of ordinary life.

"Young people also come from other provinces in search of help in their life, often far from the family of origin," he said.

Among the hundreds of young people who attended the Bible study, AsiaNews heard the testimony of a young woman called Ann, a "migrant worker" who has lived "for some time" in Bien Hoa, a "land of peace".

"I participate in the activities of the parish," he said. "I go to Mass every Saturday and Sunday, although I am very busy in my work."

For her, studying, the concerns of everyday life and consumerism are some of the many challenges, and the activities of the parish are an essential contribution "to build a family of my own in the future."

Over the years, the parish has become a model for other Catholic communities in southern Vietnam. "I hope that my parish of origin," said Brother Thieu, a university student and candidate at the Major Seminary of St. Joseph in Xuan Loc, "will follow the example of the youth ministry in Bien Hoa."

• vietnam
• south
• pope
• francis
• bible
• study
• youth
• ministry