Hanoi officials congratulate parishioners on Christmas

Hanoi (VNA) – A delegation of Hanoi administration, led by Standing Vice Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen Thi Tuyen, visited and extended Christmas greetings to Hung Hoa Diocese in Son Tay town  on December 17.

Talking to Bishop Peter Nguyen Van Vien and former Bishop John Mary Vu Tat of the diocese, Tuyen acknowledged the contribution of Catholic dignitaries, priests and followers to the city’s socio-economic development in 2020 despite COVID-19.

She informed that the city has basically completed its socio-economic targets, with its GRDP growing nearly 4 percent, 1.5 times higher than the national average, and its budget collection exceeding the estimate by 0.2 percent.

The official took the occasion to highlight the Catholic community’s engagement in the capital’s pandemic prevention and control work, hoping them to continue their collaboration with the local authorities in 2021.

Bishop Vien thanked the authorities for creating favourable conditions for the diocese to carry out religious activities regularly in the context of COVID-19.

He vowed to continue encouraging Catholics to follow the Party’s guidelines as well as the State and city’s laws and regulations, proactively contributing to the country’s overall development./.