(VNA)Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Nguyen The Doanh on December 21 made a visit to pastors and dignitaries of the Executive Board of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (north) on the occasion of the upcoming Christmas.
At the meeting, the Government official wished the Church and Protestant followers nationwide a merry and peaceful Christmas season.
He hailed the Church’s active contributions to the national construction in line with its regulations and charter, saying these also marked the efforts made by the Church and its followers in the course of serving God for the sake of the nation.
Pastor Phung Quang Huyen, Head of the northern Protestant Church, expressed gratitude for the support the Committee for Religious Affairs has given to the Church over the recent time.
The dignitary spoke about parishioners’ aspiration to be united under one umbrella so that they are able to continue serving God and the nation and contributing to concerted efforts to build a prosperous country.
Later on the day, Tran Dinh Phung, a permanent member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, paid a visit and presented Christmas gifts to the northern Protestant Church’s dignitaries.
In Ho Chi Minh City, a delegation of municipal officials visited the Ho Chi Minh City Archbishop Office, the General Confederation of Evangelical Church of Vietnam (south) and the municipal Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics on the occasion.
Cardinal Pham Minh Man, Archbishop of the Ho Chi Minh City archdiocese, said the Vietnam Catholic Church and Catholics nationwide have a stake in issues relating to national development and wish to contribute more to social activities.
For his part, Pastor Thai Phuoc Truong, Head of the General Confederation of Evangelical Church of Vietnam (south), told the officials that Protestant followers in the city have organised a variety of activities to greet the Christmas season, including masses held at newly-built and newly-restored churches.
Priest Nguyen Cong Danh, President of the HCM City Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics briefed the officials on the committee’s activities and affirmed that “wherever they are, Vietnamese Catholic followers all set their hearts on the motherland.”
Ho Chi Minh City is home to close to 646,000 Catholics and over 73,000 Protestant followers.