Thái Hà parish held a service led by Redemptorist Superior Fr Giuse Trịnh Ngọc Hiên. Some diplomats were also present. Funds were collected for the victims of the conflict.
Hanoi (AsiaNews) – Thái Hà parish celebrated a Mass of prayer for Ukraine following the appeals by Pope Francis, Archbishop Giuse (Joseph) Vă Văn Thiên of Hanoi, and Fr Michael Brehl, head of the Redemptorist Order.
Redemptorists Superior Fr Giuse Trịnh Ngọc Hiên led the service, which saw the participation of some foreign diplomats, including Nataliya Zhynkina, chargé d’affaires at the Embassy of Ukraine in Hanoi, and Italy’s Ambassador to Vietnam Antonio Alessandro.
During the Mass, parishioners collected funds for Ukrainian children war victims. After two days of prayer on Saturday and Sunday, Fr Giuse Trịnh Ngọc Hiên handed the money to the Ukrainian ambassador.
"People are suffering due to Russia’s invasion,” Fr Toản said during the homily. “These are children, women, men, elderly and innocent people attacked by missiles.”
"Let us listen to Pope Francis’s appeal,” he noted. “We cannot ignore the suffering, injustice, intimidation and destruction of innocent people right in their homeland in Ukraine. We must say no to war and support peace.”
Some Thái Hà parishioners spoke to AsiaNews after the service. “Everyone prayed to the Mother of Perpetual Help, holding a candle and singing the Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi,” they said.
“We also read the scriptures and the prayer of the Holy Father consecrating Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary,” they added.