The Second National Commissioner at the Pilgrimage Center of Our Lady of Lavang

(CGOL) On Monday afternoon, September 19, 2022, at the Pilgrimage Center of Our Lady of La Vang, Archdiocese of Hue, more than five hundred participants including bishops, priests, monks and parishioners from three teachings of Hanoi province , Hue and Saigon have gathered to attend the Congress of the People’s Committee of the XIV term (2019-2022) with the theme “The parishioner in the Synod  Church”.

At 19:30, all participated in the enthusiasts of the Anes Le Thi Thanh , the patronage of the Commissioners of the Commissioners, and pray the Rosary of Our Lady of La Vang and the Blessed Sacrament to offer the feelings of Congress.

The opening ceremony of the Congress celebrated at six o’clock in the third morning was celebrated by Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Chi Linh, Archdiocese of Hue, Chairman of the Vietnam Episcopal Conference; Bishop Joseph Tran Van Toan, Bishop of Long Xuyen Diocese, Chairman of the Commission for the Council of the Vietnam Bishops, Bishop Emmanuel Nguyen Hong Son, Bishop of Ba Ria Diocese, Chairman of the Commission for Liturgy Belonging to the Vietnam Bishops’ Conference, together with the Father in charge of the Commissioner of the Parish Commission (CEM),and Father in charge of the Provincial Commissioner of the Provincial parishioners.

In three days 20, 21 and 22-9, the Congress listened to 9 presentations of the three teachers of Hue, Saigon and Hanoi and three topics:

     1-The parishioners worked as an apostolic work: Collaborating with the shepherds to build the local Church (the role and responsibility of the Parish Pastoral Council).

     2- The parishioner works: Re-evangelization (the Apostle Unions participate in the search and lead the Christians away from the Lord and the Church to return back).

     3- The parishioner works: Actively participate in the mission of proclaiming the Gospel of the Church.

The topics were presented by the parishioners representing the three provincial spectors through the discussions divided equally during the three days of the Congress. After the presentations, the Congress heard the sharing of experiences in the apostolic activity. The concerns of the participants were sent to the pastors, and especially the seminar for all participants to share their feelings, experiences, and problems in the apostolic activities.

After the presentations, the Congress was listened to the Pastor’s sentiment through Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Chi Linh, Bishop Emmanuel Nguyen Hong Son, Bishop Joseph Tran Van Toan:

1- Bishop Joseph, Archbishop of Hue Archdiocese sanctify the seminar and comment, the congress gathered 520 delegates as precious, the image of a great Church where I felt as I felt like at home, peace. Thanks to God, brothers and sisters come here in communion and leave in communion in the role of the parishioner, the active love of the Church. Believing in the solidarity, commitment, construction, to expand the great Catholic family, witness the image of a wonderful Church, new chance, new history need to have the sense of the role of the parishioners. The mission was given by the Lord, becoming a member of the Church with three missions. The Bishop explained the positions and in which the parishioners were the Church, the majority of the composition. The Church needs order. St. Paul uses body image to describe: the parishioners play the role of advising and affirming the position next to the parish priest, not the initiative. The World Bishop’s Synod teaches how to listen to. The Parish Council is only advisable, saying what to let the parish priest hear is the art of Synod. If we want to serve effectively, there must be an art of synod and must listen to each other. Each region has its own rules, should not question how to compare. So what to do is how to benefit our community. When we participate in the organization of the Council of Councils, the interests of the parishion community, the motivation to participate is invincible, sensitive to the needs of the community, the companion work helps the parish priest to master the situation of the region. .

2- Through the presentations of the three provincial, Bishop Emmanuel, Bishop of Ba Ria diocese shed light on the issues of missionary issues in the status of the apostle or parishioners. With the parish priest, with the responsibility. The Bishop suggested that it was the attendant who was and wanted to engage in the mission, ourselves, from many different regions of the parish. Depending on the person, depending on the level of receiving, determine what to do and how to do it? The Bishop emphasized that the Holy Spirit is the one who makes the Church step out of each person’s room, as if the flame’s tongue is parked on us through the Commissioner, through this second congress. Let us listen to the Spirit instructing us. Re-evangelization and the evangelization for myself first, if I have been transformed at all, so I will give it to others to be sweeter, ask God to take me back to Him first. Not to mention many of the religious and the Council of Councils are present, present in the church but do not go to the ceremony, many members of the Union to go to the ceremony, the ceremony is still less than the parishioners. The limit when participating in the apostolic work, executing the mission, the barrier is right at our feet, like the lack of sandals at the foot is also limited to me, I say I do, this condition is the other condition, myself becomes barriers. When participating, performing the whole execution of each other’s fault, the communion and implementation of such a mission.

3- In the opening of Bishop Joseph, Chairman of the Commissioner gave thanks to the Lord, thanked to Mary, Saint Ane Le Thi Thanh for a combined atmosphere. The three missions of Christ passed on to the Church, the first object is those who need pastoral care, the second object is baptized but the feeling of faith shook, no more confession, procession, confusion The spouse, and the third object are those who have not received the Gospel.

The Bishop agreed with the sharing of the representative of Saigon Province about the religious life experience, the profound reason of those who were far away because they no longer felt and experienced the love of the Church being cuddled, spending for them. Therefore, members of the associations must have that experience, and from there with the gift of the Holy Spirit, collaborating with the Church because we are the one who is converted first. It is necessary to meet with people as the exemplary of Mary’s visit to Dacaria’s house, although there is a physical difficulty, but have a correlation with Jesus in her heart. Thanks to the Holy Spirit to enlighten us to realize the sacred experience of the visitors and to be visited. This is a model for the apostles when visiting just love, pray for them, live kindly do not become an excuse for more people, must know how to be humble to re-evangelize themselves.

The Bishop acknowledged the presentation about chatichism of the representative of the Hanoi Province, studying to cope to receive the sacrament, and the luggage entered the life was not enough. After finishing the sacrament, the energy is to rest, if an adult only understands like a teenager. The chatichism is educating faith, deep digging to pray, to serve and live that belief. If you do not realize instinctive in the first seven crimes, sooner or later will be beaned. Spead the belief as witnessing that belief. So it seems that many young people neglect, forget their belief. Be afraid of friends, do not dare to make sign of the cross before eating, not testifying faith from an early age. Now it’s our turn. The Bishop recalled the sending of two -disciple on Emmaus. When God passed, the Lord walked next to them, using a warm -up, presenting bread, evoking the memory to break the bread, they immediately returned. The Words of God, the Eucharist, the intimate relationship for them to realize.

The bishop emphasized that the representative of Hue Province shared that it was the life of witness and testimony, life through prayer and correlation. Passionate God can do, God is a throne attached to us, ideal for our lives. Increase training of mass organizations.

Thursday morning on September 22, 2022, the Bishops and the concelebrants dedicated to the closing Mass. The Bishops and Chairman of the People’s Committee sent his feelings through two term XIII and XIV with two congresses in turn taking place at the Pilgrimage Center of Our Lady of Bai Dau (term XIII) and the Pilgrimage Center of Our Lady of La Vang (Mission term XIV). May Our Lady and Patron Saint Anes intercede to the Lord for the Commission of the Committee. At the end of the closing ceremony of the Congress, Father Anton Ha Van Minh, Secretary of the People’s Committee/HDGDVN, Secretary of the Organizing Committee of the Congress expressed his gratitude to all theBishops, the Fathers, Father in charge of 27 dioceses, participants, benefactors, collaborators … and very touched, when the Bíhop, the President asked thanking together with him to the parishioners for leaving all their works, home to attend the congress, so that the new Congress was successful. Finally, the Bishop and the Secretary of the Organizing Committee awarded the Medal with the image of the entire participant attending the congress to the Bishops, and the parishioners of each diocese to remember a great period. The association is filled with joy with the spirit of communion, participation and the mission in the Synod Church.

Sr. Giacinta FSML  –  ( HDGMVN )