Strongly supporting the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws, many religious dignitaries have voiced their confidence that the draft documents adopted at the 14th National Party Congress will serve as an important foundation for mobilising, uniting and bringing together religious organisations, believers, dignitaries, office-holders and monastics to live “good lives and beautiful faith”, accompany the nation, and actively participate in patriotic movements and emulation campaigns.
Harnessing religious resources in the cause of national construction
Venerable Thich Hue Phuoc, Standing Vice Chairman of the Executive Board of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha of Hue City, stated that the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam is a major political event of the Party, with far-reaching influence on the country’s political, economic and social life, including monks, nuns and Buddhists in Hue City.
Through studying the draft documents and the preparations for the 14th National Congress, Venerable Thich Hue Phuoc expressed his belief that the Congress will be a milestone ushering in a new era of strength, prosperity and affluence. In recent years, the Buddhist community of Hue has consistently welcomed the Central Committee’s guidelines on religious affairs, notably Resolution No. 43-NQ/TW dated November 24, 2023 of the 13th Central Committee’s 8th Plenum, and the draft documents submitted to the 14th National Congress. The Central Committee’s viewpoints clearly set out the task of expanding development space, mobilising all social resources, and developing people and the Buddhist community in a positive and progressive direction, contributing to the nation.
Upholding the spirit of engagement and dedication, the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha of Hue City has mobilised resources to participate in building national unity and developing the economy, culture and society. Through many practical programmes and actions, Hue Buddhism in particular, and Vietnamese Buddhism in general, are contributing to the cultivation of compassionate and wise Vietnamese people, while providing both spiritual and material resources to the renewal cause.
Religious dignitaries, monks, nuns and Buddhists in Hue have actively organised numerous charity and social welfare programmes, including disaster relief, scholarships, health care, and the construction of bridges, roads and charity houses. Pagodas and chanting halls have promoted moral education through retreats that help young people build character, prevent social ills, raise environmental awareness, and preserve heritage, architecture and monastic arts.
Many monks and nuns within the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha of Hue City have set an example of responsibility and stand ready to cooperate with local authorities to develop spiritual tourism and attract international cultural exchanges. Distinctive traditional Buddhist activities in Hue such as Vesak, Vu Lan, the Avalokitesvara Festival, lantern-floating ceremonies and vegetarian cuisine, embody the way of life of “good lives and beautiful faith”, contributing to the local heritage economy strategy.
Placing trust in the 14th National Party Congress, Venerable Thich Hue Phuoc affirmed that the resolutions and action programmes implementing the Congress’s resolutions will continue to pay attention to freedom of belief and religion; national–religious unity; and the improvement of the legal framework so that religions can accompany the nation and promote cultural and moral values, thereby contributing to a civilised and prosperous country. This provides a basis for awakening aspirations and igniting the Vietnamese will in the new era, in which the Party’s leadership and the people’s consensus constitute the strength for success.
Strengthening the role of reputable figures
Father Joan Baotixita Nguyen Van Rien, Member of the 15th National Assembly, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the Central Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics, and Parish Priest of Saint Joseph Parish (Phu Cuong Diocese), assessed that the draft documents submitted to the 14th National Party Congress continue to call for renewed leadership methods and effective mobilisation and implementation of policies on ethnic and religious affairs, while strengthening the building of core forces comprising reputable figures within ethnic and religious communities.
Having long been associated with Phu Cuong Diocese, Father Nguyen Van Rien noted that the diocese, covering Tay Ninh, Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City, has around 120,000 believers, 83 parishes under five deaneries, more than 130 priests, and nearly 1,000 male and female religious from various congregations. Saint Joseph Parish, established in 2016 in Binh Duong Ward (Ho Chi Minh City), now has more than 4,000 parishioners. Clergy and parish officers there have consistently maintained close ties with the Ho Chi Minh City Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics.
Relations between the bishopric, deaneries and parishes and Party committees and authorities at all levels are harmonious and enduring. By virtue of their credibility and moral standing, parish clergy and officers consistently care for and remind parishioners to live harmoniously with followers of other religions and those with no religion, joining hands to build prosperous and civilised localities. As a result, emulation movements and campaigns launched by the Viet Nam Fatherland Front and the city’s Catholic Solidarity Committee have been implemented smoothly and effectively.
With the responsibilities of citizenship and pastoral duty, Father Nguyen Van Rien expressed gratitude to the Party, the State and local authorities for their consistent attention and support, enabling Catholics to practise their faith with peace of mind and to make increasingly practical contributions to society and the nation. Vietnamese Catholics, including parishioners of Saint Joseph Parish in Binh Duong Ward, pledge to continue accompanying the nation, upholding traditions of patriotism and unity, complying with the law, enthusiastically engaging in production and development, and contributing to the construction of Ho Chi Minh City and the country as a whole to become ever more civilised and prosperous.
Looking towards the 14th National Party Congress, Father Nguyen Van Rien expressed the hope that the Party will soon successfully realise a new growth model based on science and technology, digital transformation, the green economy and the circular economy; complete the building of a socialist rule-of-law state of the people, by the people and for the people; intensify the fight against corruption, waste and negative practices; and care for the development of Vietnamese culture and people.
