» 10/21/2011 10:59 VIETNAM Vietnamese Church with young people, against atheist and materialist "red capitalism" by Thanh Thuy In the month dedicated to the Rosary, Catholics are encouraged to overcome the logic that looks only at money and material goods. Bishops and priests witnesses of solidarity of the Church towards the marginalized. The faithful celebrating the fourth visit of the papal representative Mgr. Girelli.
Ho Chi Minh City (AsiaNews) - In the month dedicated to the Rosary, the Vietnamese Church is inviting young people to defeat the atheistic and materialistic logic that dominates the world today. Instilled with a "red capitalism", new generations are increasingly desire money and goods that go beyond strict necessity. Catholics, however, are entrusted with the task of transmitting values that are a sign of solidarity, of encounter and of mutual faith and witness. Within this context the recent visit of Mgr. Leopoldo Girelli, non-resident papal representative to Vietnam, took place during which he met with various communities - even in remote areas of the country - bringing the greetings of the Pope and the universal Church.
Some academics interviewed by AsiaNews confirm that "the young generation in Ho Chi Minh City, including Catholics, follow the 'red capitalist mentality' from an early age and are subjected to brainwashing" because they think only of " money and how to live happily in a materialistic society". The Church, however, proposes a different development model that does not negate well-being but unites it to solidarity between people and a greater focus on the needs of all citizens.
In October, the month dedicated to the Rosary, Msgr. Hoang Oanh Đức, of the diocese of Kontum - Central Vietnam - sent a letter to the faithful, particularly young people, students and their parents, in solidarity with their reality and the difficulties they face in everyday life. The prelate has repeatedly shown, in the past, his commitment to social issues and the environment: at Catholic processions, he personally took part in collecting garbage along the way, moreover he also has journeyed to remote areas, along torturous roads and through thick forests, to celebrate masses.
But the greatest sign of communion and friendship with Vietnamese Catholics was the recent visit - the fourth, in a few months since his appointment – of Msgr. Leopoldo Girelli, non-resident papal representative in Vietnam, in the country. The Vietnamese will not forget the images of the prelate, who has already visited 21 dioceses, met with Catholics across 25 different parishes, dozens of congregations and thousands of religious and seminarians, as well as millions of faithful. The Pope’s representative brings with him the communion and solidarity of the universal church, greeting a group of nuns in the Vietnamese language and inviting them to witness the beauty of Christ and love for all. He also addressed a special invitation to seminarians, asking them - immersed in a materialistic and consumerist society - to prepare adequately for the tasks and responsibilities arising from the priesthood. A religious, said Msgr. Girelli, lives in contact with God and in a spirit of communion with the Church. And this is what we need in our society today.
