Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) - “To be a Bishop in Vietnam means being a person ready to dialogue with everyone, a bearer of the values of freedom, justice and solidarity, build relations of charity also with non Christians, with atheists and communist” Bishop Joseph Tran Xuan Tieu, of Long Xuyen told Fides with regard to the work of a Catholic Bishop in Vietnam today.
“We live among the people in a spirit of charity and friendship, open to atheists and non believers. Our Church, a small minority in our country is engaged in pastoral of dialogue. We have good relations with everyone, followers of other religions, with the government, while remaining fully loyal to the Pope and the Church of Rome” the Bishop told Fides.
Bishop Joseph Tran Xuan Tieu cares for 240,000 Catholics and is assisted by 213 priests, more than 300 women religious and there are 80 seminarians in the diocese where vocations flourish: “Since 1975 no less than 120 new priest have been ordained in our diocese, a record for Vietnam. Vocations come from a faith lived and celebrated in families. In fact our family pastoral care bear rich fruits”.
“We are able to carry on our pastoral activities in complete tranquillity. Although it should be said that our form of mission is not preaching but rather witness of life, dialogue, cordiality, acceptance of others, solidarity and charity with the poor, the sick the needy. In general the situation for the Church is improving all the time and this is encouraging”.
Bishop Joseph Tran Xuan Tieu told us a special story of his life before he was made a bishop. He was parish priest in southern Vietnam and his assistant priest was Father Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet. They worked in deep harmony, pastoral work and community activity flourished at the level of catechesis, liturgy, charity, among youth. In 1999 both priests were appointed Bishops. Bishop Joseph stayed in southern Vietnam and Bishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet was appointed to a diocese in the north. Today he is Bishop of Lang Son-Cao Bang, with a community of 5,000, where religious life is showing new signs of life and he has also been appointed Apostolic Administrator of Hanoi.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 22/9/2004 lines 27 words 296)
