by Trung Tin

The country's dioceses relayed the messages and speeches Benedict XVI made during the 7th World Meetings of Families. Vietnam's Catholic families promote integration and tradition against materialism, selfishness and the 'culture of death'. The local Church organises educational courses and conducts pastoral activities.

Ho Chi Minh City (AsiaNews) - The Catholic Church in Vietnam has closely followed and participated in the 7^th World Meeting of Families that ended yesterday in Milan (Italy). Each diocese relayed the pope's messages and speeches. On its website, the pastoral committee for the family published several articles and editorials on the topic.

Catholic families play a leading role in integrating society. They do so by promoting a model of development that transcends individualism and consumerism, phenomena that are slowly eroding the country's traditions and ethno-cultural unity.

When Catholicism arrived in Vietnam in the 15^th century, the Catholic Church became part of many families' life. Over time, the Church has helped the overall development of individuals and society.

Lay Catholics and members of the clergy focused on the family, the "cell of society" whose health is indispensable for the whole.

Nowadays, social development is increasingly unbalanced. As the country's economy grows, education and ethics decline. Honesty and mutual respect take a back seat as a "culture of death" takes hold in Vietnam.

Historically, the "home" has traditionally been the place where family members congregated to eat, discuss, remember loved ones, and pray. Even today, many families maintain this religious sense of the family and want to keep the faith alive inside and outside the domestic walls.

A 92-member delegation from Vietnam attended the World Meeting of Families, led by Card Jean-Baptiste Phạm Minh Mẫn, archbishop of Saigon.

In dioceses like Xuan Loc, the faithful and families organised educational sessions, promoted pastoral and social activities, celebrated Mass for parents and children, read the Bible in small groups and carried out the Eucharistic adoration.

Speaking to AsiaNews, a Buddhist nun said that only "in family" can people truly love one another, and learn to live "on the basis of unconditional love" because the family is the "cradle of life".

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