Posted on 11/14/2011 6:34:58 AM PST by marshmallow
Ho Chi Minh City (Agenzia Fides) - "Hope for the new generations of Vietnamese youth is faith in Christ: the young people who look to a market economy, consumerism, the civilization of looking for new answers for their thirst for truth and new ways of life": this is what the theologian Fr. Joseph Do Manh Hung, Vice-Rector of the Major Seminary in Ho Chi Minh City and Secretary of the Commission for the Clergy of the Episcopal Conference of Vietnam said in an interview with Fides. The Secretary has confidence in the Christian community’s future in Vietnam, noting on the one hand "the government’s signs of openness " and, on the other hand, the flourishing of vocations (over 1,500 seminarians) and 80 thousand young lay people committed to pastoral care.
What are the prospects and hopes for Christians in Vietnam?
Hopes for the Christian faith is based mainly on young people. Vietnam has a population of 87 million people and the Church has 7 million members. And young people are the majority. In 7 major seminaries (2 in the north, 2 in the center and 3 in the south) we have over 1,500 seminarians, and this abundance of vocations is a boost of confidence for us. Faith is strengthened, but at the same time, there is the challenge represented by the opening of a market economy, consumerism, by the civilization of image. This challenge mainly affects young people, including seminarians and future priests who need adequate formation. This work of formation passes through the use and development of modern techniques.
How is evangelism proceeding?
As far as evangelization is concerned there are still some limitations, but there is a careful reflection on how to go ahead with evangelization, especially with regards to the formation of priests and laity, so that all the faithful truly mature missionary consciousness. In particular, in the major Seminary of Ho Chi Minh Ville, on the occasion of World Mission Sunday, last October 23, we raised citizen awareness through missionary testimonies.
It will reach us too. A wave of conversions, that is.
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