Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Hanoi (Agenzia Fides) - "For the Church in Vietnam, the family is still the traditional cradle of faith, the place where faith is transmitted to their children, it is the first training school for the younger generation, it is a privileged space of Christian witness": says the Commission for the Family of the Episcopal Conference of Vietnam, at the conclusion of an assembly held recently in Thanh Hoa, in view of the forthcoming Synod on the family which is celebrated in the Vatican from October 5 to 19.
As Fides learns, under the guidance of His Exc. Mgr. Joseph Chau Ngoc Tri, Bishop of Da Nang, President of the Commission, 155 delegates from 21 dioceses, priests, nuns and lay people involved in family ministry gathered. The assembly was intended to modernize the reflection on the challenges and prospects of the pastoral care of families, to be held in Rome, in the Vietnamese context. Each local Church is called "to listen, think, discuss, ask, pray to be able to contribute", remarked the Bishop.
The conference presented the situation of family pastoral in Vietnam and the different activities that are carried forward, calling for a reflection on future pastoral orientations. Among the difficulties that arose were those concerning young families, adequate preparation for Christian marriage, the responsibilities and tasks of the parish, the protection of life.
After three days of prayer and work, the conference acknowledged that the family in Vietnam lives a difficult and challenging phase, but has renewed enthusiasm and hope: the Vietnamese Church announces the Good News to the family, which is the cell of society so that faith can flourish in every family, bearing fruit to the whole Church. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 23/09/2014)
