Vietnam: Catholics, teach your children catechism at home
by Thanh Thuy
The conclusions of the Second National Conference of the Pastoral Committee for Families, held in September. Given the challenges of consumerist society, the commitment of parents is required: "If the pastoral activities are done well at home, we will have seven million schools to teach catechism and to transmit the faith in modern society."
Ho Chi Minh City (AsiaNews) - The Pastoral Committee of Families of the Vietnamese bishops' conference organized in September 2011 the Second Conference for all committees of the 26 dioceses in the country. The meeting took place in the archdiocese's pastoral center, and was attended by, in addition to the bishops, six Catholic associations, 27 priests, two nuns and 46 lay people. To open the encounter, the President of the Pastoral Committee for Families, Bishop Joseph of the Diocese of Đà Nẵng, said in his homily: "Now the development of technology and science is very fast in our society. However, human development, and the relationships between members of the families have not followed this development. In addition, consumerism is eroding the moral and cultural basis of the Vietnamese family. Many Catholics are in danger of seeing their faith waver. And for this reason the Church is addressing these social problems. So we have to work as disciples of Jesus."
The Vietnamese government controls the educational system of the country. Schools and universities are focused mainly on practical knowledge and teaching students how to earn a living, and attach no special importance to a humanistic education for children and young people.
Two laypeople illustrated the challenges currently faced by the family, in which many parents are not ready to address social changes. "Many Catholics in our diocese have "hardened" and "cooled" in their faith. Many parents have completely entrusted the education of their children to state school. Schools teach them how to work and earn money. Many parents go to work very early in the morning and come home late at night, when their children are already sleeping. Many do not understand their children, because there is no communication between parents and children."
During the meeting they discussed the need for "young couples to be trained to know how to educate their children, so as to teach them the catechism from home, and pass on the faith. In addition, the parish priests should help families and immigrants in this respect. The parish priests must remind the laity to pray together with their children at home".
This was the hint provided by the pastoral letter of the Vietnamese Bishops Conference of 2010, "The Assembly of the People of God." During the meeting, it was insisted that, in order to strengthen the faith of children and adults, Catholics must use their homes as a place of education: "If the pastoral activities are done well at home, we will have seven million schools to teach catechism and to transmit the faith in modern society," was the conclusion.
The Vietnamese government controls the educational system of the country. Schools and universities are focused mainly on practical knowledge and teaching students how to earn a living, and attach no special importance to a humanistic education for children and young people.
Two laypeople illustrated the challenges currently faced by the family, in which many parents are not ready to address social changes. "Many Catholics in our diocese have "hardened" and "cooled" in their faith. Many parents have completely entrusted the education of their children to state school. Schools teach them how to work and earn money. Many parents go to work very early in the morning and come home late at night, when their children are already sleeping. Many do not understand their children, because there is no communication between parents and children."
During the meeting they discussed the need for "young couples to be trained to know how to educate their children, so as to teach them the catechism from home, and pass on the faith. In addition, the parish priests should help families and immigrants in this respect. The parish priests must remind the laity to pray together with their children at home".
This was the hint provided by the pastoral letter of the Vietnamese Bishops Conference of 2010, "The Assembly of the People of God." During the meeting, it was insisted that, in order to strengthen the faith of children and adults, Catholics must use their homes as a place of education: "If the pastoral activities are done well at home, we will have seven million schools to teach catechism and to transmit the faith in modern society," was the conclusion.
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