Religious people firmly believe in the Party

In the process of building, protecting and developing the country, the Party and the State have issued many policies and strategies to promote the strength of the great national unity bloc, with the goal of building a strong, powerful and prosperous Vietnam. In particular, policies and strategies on religion have been promoted, thanks to which, generations of religious people always have confidence, join hands, contribute and accompany the development of the country in general and the province in particular.

PART 1: Contribution to the Fatherland

During the two resistance wars against French colonialism and American imperialism, as well as in the construction of the country today, our people, wherever they are, regardless of religion or non-religion, have spared no blood and sweat, joined hands and unitedly built and protected the Fatherland. There have been dignitaries and followers of religions in the province who have been honored by the Party and the State for their contributions and sacrifices for the country.

The Cathedral (Nha Trang) not only serves the religious activities of Catholics, but is also a tourist destination for domestic and foreign tourists. Photo: VINH THANH

Join hands for peace and national independence

In July, when the whole country in general and Khanh Hoa province in particular organized many activities to care for and show gratitude to families with revolutionary contributions on the occasion of the 76th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27), following the information provided by the Provincial Catholic Solidarity Committee, I went to Phong Phu 2 Residential Group, Ninh Giang Ward (Ninh Hoa Town). Here, most of the people in the residential group knew about the Vietnamese Heroic Mother Le Thi Tiem (deceased).

It can be said that Mother Tiem devoted her whole life to the country and people, contributing to the country's peace and independence. During the two resistance wars against French colonialism and American imperialism, her house was a revolutionary base. During her youth, Mother Tiem supplied food to cadres and guerrillas. Although she was captured by the enemy many times, with the steadfast heart and spirit of a revolutionary soldier devoted to the Fatherland, she always kept secrets from her comrades and the organization. At that time, her husband died early, and she had two sons who both took her last name. When they grew up, Mother Tiem's two sons participated in revolutionary activities and then sacrificed themselves in the resistance war against French colonialism in the Hon Heo area (Ninh Hoa). Among them, martyr Le Loi, who participated in revolutionary activities since 1946, sacrificed himself in November 1950; martyr Le Qua, who participated in revolutionary activities since 1946, sacrificed himself in February 1951.

Talking to Mr. Nguyen Van Chuong (born in 1954, My Chanh residential group, Ninh Giang ward), I learned that mother Tiem and her two children (martyr Le Loi and martyr Le Qua) were all Catholics. Mr. Chuong said that he used to work as a Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs officer in Ninh Giang commune (now Ninh Giang ward). At that time, the viewpoint of local leaders, departments and branches was that everyone, whether lay or teacher, who had made contributions must be recognized. Therefore, the Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs sector at all levels reviewed the correct policy framework according to regulations to propose to superiors to consider awarding the title of Vietnamese Heroic Mother to mother Tiem and the Certificate of Merit to her two children. Ms. Le Thi Xuan (stepdaughter of mother Tiem's husband) said that she is currently the recipient of the policy of worshiping Vietnamese Heroic Mother Le Thi Tiem and the two martyrs. All regimes and policies are of interest to the Party and State, and functional agencies pay and support in accordance with regulations.

Mr. Tran Van Gia gives gifts to a Catholic family with revolutionary contributions. Photo: TVG

Through information from Mr. Tran Van Gia - Member of the Vietnam Catholic Solidarity Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial Catholic Solidarity Committee, I learned that during the two resistance wars to defend the Fatherland, people in the province, regardless of religion or non-religion, were enthusiastic about participating in the revolution, participating in the resistance war to fight for national liberation and unification, including many families and individuals who were dignitaries and Catholic compatriots participating in the revolution. Mr. Gia said that during the resistance war against French colonialism, in the province, there was Priest Nguyen So (Parish Priest of Cho Moi Parish, Vinh Ngoc Commune, Nha Trang City) who made many contributions to the revolution. When Priest Nguyen So passed away in 1990, the State posthumously awarded the Third Class Resistance Medal to the priest.

Priest Pham Ngoc Phi - Parish Priest of Cho Moi Church (Vinh Ngoc Commune) on behalf of Catholic believers received the Third Class Resistance Medal for Priest Nguyen So. Photo: Provincial Catholic Solidarity Committee

Forever pride

In a spacious level 4 house in Tan An village, Cam An Bac commune (Cam Lam district), Mr. Nguyen Hong Son - father of martyr Nguyen Dai Hai lit incense on the altar of his son with a feeling of sadness and longing. Mr. Son said: "In this Catholic area of Vinh Binh parish, people always follow the policies and laws of the Party and State. When my son received the call to join the army, his family and parishioners in the village congratulated and encouraged Hai to feel secure to join the army to build and protect the country."

Representatives of Brigade 146, Naval Region 4 visited and presented gifts to the family of martyr Nguyen Dai Hai on the occasion of the 76th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day. Photo: VINH THANH

When he joined the army, Hai was assigned to Combat Group 2, Song Tu Tay Island, Brigade 146, Truong Sa. In 2012, when Hai was only about 1 month away from completing his military service, he sacrificed himself while on duty. When Hai's teammates and unit leaders reported it, Mr. Son and his family members were devastated. He said that after hearing the bad news, Hai's unit leaders, the parish priest, and neighbors promptly and closely encouraged him. Thanks to that, over time, the family's pain gradually subsided. Hai's sacrifice was a great loss for the family, but he also felt proud because his son had made many contributions to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland; at the same time, it also highlighted the tradition of Tan An village. Therefore, over the years, whenever a young man in Tan An village left for military service, Mr. Son would come to their house to encourage them and contribute gifts so that the young man could confidently fulfill his military service.

The Executive Committee of Cam An Bac Commune Youth Union visited and presented gifts to the family of martyr Nguyen Dai Hai. Photo: TUAN HO

Mr. Ho Duy Tuan - Secretary of the Cam An Bac Commune Youth Union said that Cam An Bac Commune has more than 90% Catholics. The youth in the commune are enthusiastic about contributing their youth to build their homeland. Martyr Nguyen Dai Hai is an outstanding young man who has contributed to highlighting the revolutionary tradition of the commune. Currently, the whole commune has 8 martyrs, 1 wounded soldier, and in Tan An village alone there are 5 martyrs...

The places I visited, as well as through conversations with dignitaries, monks, priests, and religious followers in the province, all showed patriotic enthusiasm, readiness to devote themselves to building and protecting the Fatherland, contributing to a better life.

Mr. TRAN VAN GIA - Member of the Vietnam Catholic Solidarity Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial Catholic Solidarity Committee: In the province, there are many cases of families with revolutionary contributions, Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, war invalids, sick soldiers, and martyrs who are Catholics. The viewpoint of the Party and State is that regardless of religion or ethnicity, anyone who has contributed to the Fatherland will be recognized; those who sacrificed to protect the Fatherland will be honored by the Party, the State, and the people. Therefore, in recent years, all levels, sectors, agencies, and organizations have paid attention to and well implemented the work of gratitude, ensuring regimes and policies for people with revolutionary contributions and their relatives, including policy beneficiaries who are Catholics. In the coming time, the Provincial Catholic Solidarity Committee will continue to direct the Catholic Solidarity Committees to closely coordinate with the Front and the Departments of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs at the district level to accurately review the number of Catholics who have contributed to the revolution in order to promptly visit and encourage them.

GREAT SEA

PART 2: Actively participate in building a new life

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