The Catholics in Gia Lai province are commended for their outstanding achievements in the patriotic emulation movement for the 2017-2022 term. (Photo: VNA)

The Central Highlands province of Gia Lai currently has 5 religions including Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist, Cao Dai, and Baha'i, with over 417,000 followers, accounting for about 28% of the province's population. As a province with many ethnic groups and religions, the religious life of the Gia Lai people is very rich and diverse.

Catholicism alone has more than 156,000 parishioners, accounting for more than one third of the total number of worshippers in the province, including 116 dignitaries, 435 positions and 136 nuns; there are 101 affiliated religious organizations and 84 religious establishments.

On June 22, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Gia Lai held a conference to conclude the patriotic emulation movement (period 2017-2022) among Catholics.

Further honing the strengths

In the period 2017-2022, Catholics in Gia Lai and people of all ethnic groups in the province always united and accompanied each other in all areas of social life; expressed religious beliefs by concrete and practical actions such as economic development, hunger eradication and poverty alleviation; and built a people's local government.

Alongside that, Catholics in the province also actively participated in building a socio-cultural life, as well as national defense and security; actively and effectively participated in charity work, raising people's knowledge and contributing to the spirit of the The Vietnamese bishops' 1980 joint letter "Living the gospel in the heart of the nation to serve the happiness of the compatriots."

The transfer and appointment activities were carried out in accordance with the order and procedures registered with the State agency.

The construction, repair and renovation of worship facilities were concerned for and guided by the authorities in accordance with the provisions of law, meeting the needs of worshippers.

In recent years, due the COVID-19 pandemic, the large gatherings of parishes and religious activity registration points have all been suspended under the guidance of the Government to ensure compliance with pandemic prevention and control.

The Catholic community in Gia Lai has actively promoted the strengths of the locality, helping each other with capital, materials, seedlings, production experience, and working days to change the structure of plants and materials, raise, develop professions, and create jobs for local parishioners.

Economically, there are many households and individuals in districts, towns and cities in the province who are good at production and business.

These are also the leading role models in economic development, poverty alleviation, and legitimate enrichment among Catholics, who work together with the people in the province to reduce the rate of poor households.

In terms of livelihood, every year, 100% of residential areas in the Catholic community register to build a cultural family, and 98% of Catholic households register to strive for a cultural family.

Continuing to unite the nation and the religion

Along with the achievements in the 2017-2022 period, the Conference also pointed out the limitations, takeaways and directions for the future.

Accordingly, the goal of the Catholic community in Gia Lai province is to continue to expand and promote national unity and religious solidarity; widely propagate the patriotic emulation movement among Catholics, and promote the spirit of charity and love.

The Catholic community in the province continues to strengthen solidarity and help each other in economic development, hunger eradication and poverty alleviation; effectively use capital for investment in production and business development, job creation and sustainable poverty reduction; focus on practicing democracy, maintaining discipline, living and working according to the Constitution and the law.

Speaking at the conference, Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich, Vice Chairwoman of Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee, said that the Provincial People's Committee wishes that in the coming time, with its role and prestige, dignitaries, monks and fellow Catholics will continue to promote good values.

She called on Catholics to uphold civic responsibility, actively respond to patriotic emulation movements, strive to have more role models in socio-economic development, build cultural life, maintain security and order, and protect the environment.

In addition, fellow Catholics continue to encourage each other to live a "good life, good religion,” "respect God, love the country,” follow the direction of the Church to “live the gospel in the heart of the nation to serve the happiness of the compatriots" and the Pope's instruction of "good Catholics are also good citizens,” and actively contribute to the development of Gia Lai.

On this occasion, the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Gia Lai presented certificates of merit to 75 individuals with outstanding achievements in the patriotic emulation movement in the province in the 2017-2022 period.