VIETNAMESE CATHOLICS OF THE DIASPORA MEET IN ROME

VATICAN CITY, JUL 25, 2003 (VIS) - Last evening at 8 p.m. in a hall of the Janiculum Terminal near the Vatican, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, inaugurated the four-day Faith Encounter of the Vietnamese Catholic Community living in the diaspora. The theme of the meeting, organized by the Coordinating Office for the Pastoral of Vietnamese in the World, is "United in Living and Proclaiming the Gospel."

About 2,000 Vietnamese from 16 countries are expected to attend. There are an estimated two million Vietnamese living in the diaspora, of whom approximately 30 percent are Catholic.

Following Cardinal Sepe's remarks was a Mass presided over by Archbishop Philip Wilson of Adelaide, Australia, vice-president of the Australian Episcopal Conference, who led a pilgrimage of Vietnamese Catholics residing in his country.

Meetings are scheduled for today and tomorrow in the Terminal as well as at the nearby Pontifical Urban University. Adults will meet this morning to discuss the theme "Witness of Faith in the Past and Prospects of the Walk of Faith of the Catholic Vietnamese Community in the Diaspora." Young people will meet at the university and talk about "Youth and the future of the Catholic Vietnamese Community in Diaspora in the local Churches and the Church in Vietnam." There will be a penitential rite in late morning, as well as a procession and Eucharistic blessing.

This afternoon at 4 Msgr. Joseph Dinh Duc Dao, leader of the apostolate for Vietnamese in the diaspora will celebrate Mass in St. Mary Major Basilica. At 8:30 p.m. Cardinal Sepe will preside at a cultural presentation featuring contributions by the various communities and by artists.

Saturday morning, July 26, there will be meetings of Vietnamese by country. In the afternoon specific groups will gather to discuss themes assigned to each group: 1. Priests, deacons and religious: "Witnesses of unity in the consecrated and apostolic life"; 2. Parents: "Witnesses of unity in love in transmitting the faith to children"; 3. Youth: "Witnesses in unity according to the Gospel in order to be apostles for young people"; 4. Members of the pastoral council: "Witnesses in unity to build united communities, committed to proclaiming the Gospel"; 5. Apostolic Movements and Associations: "United in Proclaiming the Gospel according to individual charisms"; 6. Members of the media: "United in proclaiming the Gospel through the media"; 7. Artists: "United in Proclaiming the Gospel through art."

Saturday evening at 7:30 there will be a procession in honor of Our Lady of Lavang, followed by Mass in the Janiculum Terminal celebrated by Bishop Paul Nguyen Van Hoa of Nha Trang, president of the Episcopal Conference of Vietnam. The day will conclude with a prayer vigil.

Cardinal Sepe will preside at the concluding Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on Sunday, July 27 at 10 a.m.

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