REPORT TO THE SOCIAL MINISTRY BOARD

NARATIVE

A third grant from the Mother Mary Veronica Ministry Fund sent me again to the Mission in the diocese of Hung Hoa, North Vietnam this summer. Everything now looks familiar to me, especially because I have observed no improvement in people's quality of life in this most impoverished and underdeveloped region of the country. A 50-mile one-way trip from the city of Son Tay to the village of Ngo Xa in the province of Phu Tho took me 4 hours by car, including time spent on a ferry crossing the Hong Ha River. This is not surprising considering the status quo of the economy for this part of the country.

The Reverend Nguyen Trung Thoai now enjoys the government's approval of his pastorship at the Parish of Son Tay, where the Chancery is currently located. He also serves the diocese in the capacity of Chancellor and Director of Vocation. Due to his good working relationship with the local government, religious activities in the parish and at the Chancery are less restricted as compared to many other parishes in the diocese. This favorable environment makes it possible to run Catechetical Formation and Pastoral Training Programs at the Chancery throughout the year. However, frequent visits by the National Security Force still occur a few times per week both at the Chancery and the Generalate of the Sisters of the Holy Cross. My lectures ran without major incidents although a seminarian was always ready to take over - while I then would become a student - should any unpredictable circumstances arise.

Given the small number of priests in the diocese, recruitment of catechists at local parishes is crucial. The Faithful are eagerly invited to participate in the Catechetical Ministry, though many decline the invitation out of fear of their own limitations and not knowing how to teach. Others join the team of about 1,000 parochial catechists but require a great deal of learning, given their meager 2 or 3 years of primary education. Resource materials for them are nonexistent.

The diocese has now obtained governmental authorization for priests to periodically visit the former parishes in the cities of Hoa Binh, Lao Cai, Sapa and Son La to perform Sacraments and celebrate Liturgies. Each pastoral visitation lasts from 7 to 10 days, during which time hundreds of returning Catholics and catechumens need to be instructed. A Mission Team consisting of a priest, a couple of seminarians and several catechists work intensively to prepare people for sacraments or spiritual renewal. Groups of people from these areas may also come to the Chancery to receive instruction and celebrate Sacraments. The Guest House at the Chancery welcomes them throughout the year free of charge. Such brief preparations can only teach Common Catholic Prayers and the basics of the Catholic Faith.

MISSION PROGRAMMING

1. Catechetical Formation Program:

1. Pontifical Documents
   1. A Brief Introduction to "Evangelii Nuntiandi"
   2. An In-depth study "Catechesi Tradendae"
   3. An Introduction to the General Directory For Catechesis
2. Introduction to Vatican II's Documents
3. History of the Catholic Church in Vietnam

   Parts II and III are taught by other faculty members on the weekends when I conduct Adult Faith Formation sessions in several parishes in the province of Phu Tho.

4. Celebrating Liturgy of the Word outside Mass

   Theory is put into practice with the Celebration of the Liturgy of the Word and Faith Sharing in place of every day's Evening Prayer. It is innovative and intimidating at the beginning then loved and wholeheartedly embraced by the third day. Everybody opens up, including the most introverted sisters who are always listening in silence, due to the nature of their religious formation.

5. The Seven Sacraments
   1. Introduction to the Rites of the Catholic Church
   2. A Historical Introduction to the Sacraments of the Catholic Church
   3. The Seven Sacraments
   4. The Sacramental

   Each Sacrament is examined in its four dimensions:

   • Origins
   • Historical Developments
   • Theology and Celebration of the Rite
   • Pastoral concerns and challenges
6. Issues and Concerns pertaining to the catechists' ministry in the diocese
   • Lack of textbooks and resource materials
   • Slow pace of learning on the part of the catechists in local parishes. Each lesson taught to children needs to be modeled and practiced during parochial catechist formation programs.
   • Curriculum and textbooks for expeditious catechesis during periodic pastoral visitations are direly need. Class time was taken to develop and agree upon a tentative Outline. Again, I have been asked to compile the materials. I need to find the precious free time to do this.
   • Fostering on-going faith formation for both Master Catechists and Parochial Catechists. Master Catechists are given a Catechism of the Catholic Church and a Bible. Parochial Catechists receive only a copy of the Catechism used for the class they teach. Many of them are not able to obtain a copy of the New Testament.

Every lecture needs to be typed for the Catechists' later use and reference. My task of translating the lectures from English into Vietnamese is challenging and time consuming.

2. Adult Faith Formation:

Six parishes participate: Ha Thach, Bai Dong, Ngoc Thap, Lung Giua, Xom Buom and No Luc. Once again, I had the opportunity to see children squatting on the ground outside the church for their Religious Education classes, moving around to avoid the summer sun's burning rays. With small donations from family and friends, I was able to finance three small undertakings in the following parishes:

1. Ngoc Thap, a $200 grant will erect a shed to shelter 3 Religious Education classrooms. Over three hundred children are using the small church, the one room (20ft x 12ft) parish center, and the open space outside the church when they attend classes.
2. Ha Thach: A grant of $200 for student desks.
3. Xom Buom: $100 for blackboards.