Easter celebration strengthens Vietnamese migrants in Thailand

Last updated on: April 24, 2014 at 2:06 am by CNA Daily News

Easter celebration strengthens Vietnamese migrants in Thailand 2014-04-24T02:06:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Bangkok, Thailand, Apr 23, 2014 / 08:06 pm (CNA).- Scores of Catholic migrants from Vietnam gathered across Thailand on Sunday to celebrate Christ's Resurrection with the traditions of their homeland.

In Bangkok, more than 1,500 Vietnamese youth gathered April 20 for Mass in their own language at Chair of St. Peter parish, said by Fr. James Hanh Vu, a Dominican.

“This has been tremendous … and was perhaps the largest gathering for the Vietnamese Catholic youth in Bangkok and the surrounding areas,” Fr. Anthony Le Duc, SVD, the city's chaplain for ministry to Vietnamese migrants, told CNA April 22.

“Presently, we have organized a total of 11 groups throughout the Bangkok archdiocese and its surrounding areas,” he explained. Each of the groups for Vietnamese expatriates includes between 60 and 300 members.

Speaking of the growth of the bigger groups, Fr. Le Duc added that communication via social media “has been instrumental in organizing various events … and it has resulted in substantive growth of bigger communities.”

Thailand's Committee for Vietnamese Migrant Ministry organized 13 days of recollection throughout Lent to prepare Vietnamese youth to celebrate Christ’s Resurrection.

Several Vietnamese priests and religious from various religious orders prepared and preached catecheses in Vietnamese for the days of recollection, and the celebration of Easter Sunday marked the culmination of the Lenten spiritual preparations.

Speaking of the importance of Confession, Fr. Le Duc said that “although the Mass was scheduled to begin at 1 p.m., a large number of youth had begun arriving at the parish as early as 10 a.m. to make their confessions.”

Preaching at the Mass, Fr. Le Duc reminded the Vietnamese youth studying and working in Thailand that the Spirit is urging them to be enthusiastic in their prayer life and in attending Mass.

“No longer can we use the excuse of being too tired from working and studying to pray; nor can we use the reason of not understanding Thai well to excuse ourselves from going to Mass on Sunday,” he added.

Fr. Le Duc emphasized that the difficulties, challenges, and suffering we all face are to be borne with faith and hope in the Risen Christ.

“The way of the cross is meant to be traveled; it is not a place to stop and pitch a tent,” he exhorted.

Sr. Jacinta Nguyen Minh Tuyet, of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary – an order founded in North Vietnam in 1946 – told CNA that the youth “participate enthusiastically in such gatherings because they were raised to be faithful Catholics in Vietnam … hence they bring this faith with them and are able to be examples of living Catholic faith to the Thais around them.”

Peter Do Van Hung, a seminarian of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart, told CNA, “it’s a joy to join the Vietnamese Easter celebration in Thailand, and an opportunity to meet the priests and religious, and Vietnamese youth,” adding that the reflections given by the priests had “helped us to enter into the spirit of the Easter season and to live out this spirit in our daily life.”

“I am extremely happy that the priests and sisters have organized this Easter celebration,” Anna Nguyen Thi Hue, one of the attendees at the Mass, told CNA.

“Especially this year, most of us are able to receive Holy Communion because we’ve had the opportunity to attend various Lenten recollections to prepare for the Resurrection of the Lord.”

Nguyen call the atmosphere of the celebration “really joyous,” saying, “everyone is truly showing the spirit of this day.”

Asia - Pacific

Previous Post

April 23, 2014

Friends, scholars recount sanctity of 'Good Pope John'

Next Post

April 24, 2014 Woman cured by John Paul II bringing suitcase of prayers to Rome

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: Hebrews states that without faith it is impossible to please God.

Select your answer to see how you score.

FALSE TRUE