Ho Chi Minh City (AsiaNews) - More than 500 catechists from the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City met on Thursday, feast day of Vietnam's Blessed Andrew Phú Yên, to share experiences and promote new ways to teach the Word of God. Actively involved with children, young couples, the poor and the needy, catechists play a fundamental role in passing on the faith and the values of promoted by the Church. Organised by the archdiocese, the seminar brought in people, students, nuns and priests from all of the parishes of the former Saigon.
Vincent Nguyễn Trung Vũ Đức, one of the more than 500 catechists present hails from Môi Khôi Parish. "The conference helped me boost my faith," he said. Now "I have the strength to reach out to anyone." The event, he explained, had "a very joyful atmosphere" that allowed him to "learn and share work experiences."
One of the things many catechists want is greater uniformity in catechism teaching programmes and better coordination among groups, especially in terms of organising activities.
At the end of the proceedings, parish representatives focused on new expectations and proposals, stressing several times the notion of thống nhất, uniformity and cohesion in Vietnamese, as crucial elements, in terms of the catechism's curriculum, teaching plans, hours and upgrading sessions in parishes and the diocese.
For this reason, "we are asking priests and religious orders to develop a plan on catechism teachings and books for everyone," said Fr Peter Nguyễn Văn Hiền, secretary general of the Bishops Council's Committee on catechism and faith.
Card Jean Baptiste Phạm Minh Mẫn, archbishop of Ho Chi Minh City, addressed the seminar, analysing Catholics' daily concerns, problems with the faith and every day demands.
"We thank God because more than 100 international and foreign congregations, orders and missions came here to study our ways and learn from and work with our diocese on how to teach the catechism," the prelate said.
Catechists, he said, are "people who educate in the faith," who plant the "seeds of faith" and contribute to the growth of the diocesan Church and its mission.