Tien Hoa Commune: Monks and Catholics unite to build their homeland.

The Mai Xá parish is cleaning and tidying up in preparation for Christmas.

Mai Xa village currently has nearly 100 Catholic households with almost 300 parishioners. With the motto "living a good life and upholding moral values," the parishioners in the village always work together in unity, effectively implementing the Party's guidelines and policies, and the State's laws. In particular, they always maintain and build solidarity between Catholics and non-Catholics, promote a cultured lifestyle, and contribute to the construction of new rural areas. Accordingly, the Mai Xa parish regularly propagates and encourages parishioners to build harmonious families, foster neighborly relations; encourages parishioners to participate in cultural and artistic activities, and engage in physical exercise; and effectively implements village regulations and customs. They maintain an effective model of a parish free from crime, drugs, and social vices... To date, 100% of the village's roads are paved with concrete or asphalt and equipped with street lighting. 100% of Catholic families in the village have achieved the status of "Culturally Advanced Family," and all Catholic households refrain from holding feasts during funerals. In 2024, the village was recognized as a model new rural residential area. Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu, Chairman of the Pastoral Council of Mai Xa parish, said: "For many years, all work in the village has been carried out transparently and fairly, without discrimination based on religion. Therefore, all movements have been enthusiastically supported by the people. In implementing the construction of a model new rural residential area, Catholic households in the village contributed nearly 1 billion VND to build roads, lighting systems, and flower-lined streets. Currently, we continue to encourage people to adopt a cultured lifestyle, maintain environmental hygiene, and work together with the local authorities to build an increasingly bright, green, clean, and beautiful new rural landscape."

Not only do the Catholic parishioners in Tien Hoa commune actively participate in local movements and campaigns, but they also actively develop their economy , increasing their income, with many families becoming well-off or wealthy. In Diem Tay village, with a model of making bamboo blinds that generates hundreds of millions of dong in revenue each year, Mr. Nguyen Van Dai's family – a Catholic in the village – has consistently received the title of "Excellent Household in Production and Business" for many years. Mr. Dai said: "My family has been involved in the bamboo blind making business for over 20 years. During the process of developing our family's economy, I have always received support and opportunities in terms of capital and training to invest in expanding the workshop. Currently, my family's production facility provides jobs for 20 local workers with incomes ranging from 6 to 10 million dong per person per month. Every year, I actively participate in activities initiated by the local authorities."

A road completed by the collective efforts of the parishioners in Diem Tay village, Tien Hoa commune.

After the merger, Tien Hoa commune has 4 parishes with over 600 people, concentrated in 4 villages: Diem Tay, Mai Xa, Canh Hoach, and Hoang Xa. Promoting national unity and solidarity between Catholics and non-Catholics, the commune government maintains good relations with religious leaders and officials, and encourages them to disseminate information to parishioners to effectively implement the Party's guidelines, the State's policies and laws, and actively participate in socio-economic development and ensure national defense and security in the locality. To date, the commune has 10 production and business establishments owned by Catholic parishioners, each generating hundreds of millions of VND in revenue annually. During the period 2021-2025, Catholic parishioners contributed nearly 3 billion VND and many days of labor to the construction of new rural areas; 50 Catholic households donated over 1,000 ^square meters of land for the construction of rural roads and field roads.

Comrade Vu Quang Vinh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Tien Hoa commune, said: To date, Tien Hoa commune has achieved advanced new rural area standards, with an average per capita income of nearly 80 million VND/person/year. With the goal of successfully building a model new rural commune in the coming period, the Party Committee and people of Tien Hoa commune continue to promote the spirit of solidarity between Catholics and non-Catholics to build a more prosperous, beautiful, and civilized homeland. These days, local people are joining hands with Catholic parishioners in the commune to clean up village roads and alleys, decorate churches, and diligently prepare to welcome a peaceful and happy Christmas season.

Minh Hong

Source: https://baohungyen.vn/xa-tien-hoa-luong-giao-doan-ket-chung-suc-xay-dung-que-huong-3188934.html