(VOVworld) - Vietnamese Catholic followers are jubilantly celebrating Christmas. On this occasion, VOV reporter Thu Hoa brings you a report highlighting Vietnamese Catholic followers’ contributions to the nation.

Vice President and Secretary General of the Vietnam Catholic Unity Committee, Priest Phan Khac Tu says that on June 5, 1975, Archbishop Phaolo Nguyen Van Binh sent a letter to Catholic followers in Ho Chi Minh City emphasizing that Vietnamese Catholic followers are entering a new era, joining with people of all social strata in Vietnam to live in a peaceful country. In 1980, Catholic bishops held their first meeting in Hanoi and issued a Joint Letter highlighting the spirit of “living a gospel of life to serve the national happiness”. Priest Phan Khac Tu said: "This famous letter is still relevant today because it calls on Catholic people to live well and cooperatively with other people of different social strata and contribute to the nation. The letter asks Catholic followers to demonstrate their responsibility by setting an example in production, humanitarian activities and upholding the spirit of unity and compassion".

Vietnamese Catholic people have always honored the tradition of living the gospel and uniting with the rest of the nation during the national renovation, industrialization and modernization. The Vietnam Catholic Unity Committee has always been the vanguard in mobilizing Catholic followers to respond to Party guidelines and State policies and emulation movements. "Catholic followers have always demonstrated their patriotism. They have actively participated in social humanitarian activities, helping lonely elderly people, HIV/AIDS patients, the poor and disadvantaged children", said Priest Phan Khac Tu.

The Vietnamese Party and State have always valued Catholic followers for their contributions to national unity. Thanks to the Party and State’s attention to the lives of religious followers including Catholic people, Catholicism has become a strong religion in Vietnam with 5.3 million followers, and 6,000 churches and chapels. Catholics and other religious followers are united in national construction and defense. Tran Manh Cuong, Chairman of Dac Lak province’s Catholic Unity Committee says: "Local authorities have visited our Church, some dioceses and Catholic followers. This encourages Catholic and other religious followers to contribute to national development".

The Ordinance on Religion and Belief considers religious followers an important part of the national unity bloc. Catholic followers have carried out religious activities in compliance with laws and have responded enthusiastically to State policies and national emulation movements thus contributing to strengthening the unity bloc and developing the country.