Vietnamese bishops highlight ‘Strengthening Communion’ for pastoral program of 2023

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Vietnam (CBCV) stressed the need for priests, nuns, and laity to strengthen their communion with God and each other through worthy celebrations of sacraments.
 
The CBCV held its 15th Congress, among others, to discuss "Strengthening Communion," which would serve as a road map for the pastoral program of 2023. 

Bishops from 27 dioceses in Vietnam held the meeting at the Archdiocese of Hanoi from October 3 to 7.

The church leaders urged the faithful to participate actively at Mass to strengthen their communion with God and with each other because the "Eucharist is the source of communion."

The prelates said, "It is necessary to help the faithful understand the liturgy, as Pope Francis mentioned in his Apostolic Letter on Liturgical Formation for the People of God (Desiderio Desideravi), dated June 29, 2022."

The bishops recommended the promotion of individual Bible reading and sharing in the family or small groups so that the Word of God permeates life.

"Communion among believers is built on the foundation of the Word of God," said the bishops.

They directed priests to proclaim the Word of God as the most important task and to take time for the preparation of homilies in liturgical celebrations, open Bible classes, and help the faithful be nourished by the living Word.

The bishops reminded Catholics, saying that misinformation can seriously damage the image of the Church and cause confusion among the faithful.

"Those who work in the media should pay attention to conscience and ethics, following the principle of proclaiming the truth in charity," the prelates said. "Communication must be a means of connecting people in friendship, not to sow confusion, division, even hatred and push others to the end."

The statement reads that communion in the church can be expressed through mutual affection, sincere listening in the community, and through acts of charity between fellow believers and toward others’ faith.

The bishops pointed out that human love is in danger of decreasing with scientific achievements.

They invited all to care for the elderly, couples who are struggling in their marital relationships, people with disabilities, the poor, ethnic minorities, brothers and sisters living away from home, and victims of natural disasters. 

The prelates praised the priests, nuns, and lay people who courageously and passionately committed themselves to help people regardless of religion during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the continuation of the spirit of synodality, the bishops set out a pastoral program for the next three years: for 2023: Consolidation of Communion; for 2024: Promoting participation in the life of the Church, and for 2025: Proclaiming the Gospel together.

Vietnam is a Buddhist-majority country. There are about 7 million Catholics in Vietnam, representing 7.0% of the total population. There are 27 dioceses (including three archdioceses) with 3,073 parishes and more than 3,000 priests. - Patrick Soe Htun