Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Vietnam opens its XII Assembly

CBCV (08.10.2013) – On the feast of Our Lady of Rosary, members of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Vietnam (CBCV) gathered at the Pastoral Center of the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City to begin CBCV’s XII Assembly, which is a triennial event to elect new Central Secretariat and Leadership for the Episcopal Commissions.

After having received in audience the representatives of The Government Committee for Religious Affairs who came to present flower bouquet and warm wishes to the assembly, members of CBCV received warm welcome from representatives from the host Archdiocese and shared a festive dinner.

The assembly began at 8:30 p.m. with Eucharistic adoration and night prayer in the Chapel of the Pastoral Center. Subsequently, Archbishop Peter Nguyễn Văn Nhơn of Hanoi, President of CBCV, chaired the opening session with the presence of Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, Non-resident representative of the Holy See in Vietnam.

Archbishop president of CBCV informed the goals and agenda of this assembly: To review the life of faith of the Church in Vietnam in the past three years and envision for the next three years, election of the new Central Secretariat and Leadership of the commissions for 2013-1016. Archbishop Peter Nguyễn Văn Nhơn also welcomed Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli and affirmed his presence portrays the unity of the Church in Vietnam with the Holy Father and universal Church. On behalf of the college of bishops, Archbishop Nhơn also paid homage to the departed bishops in the past three years and welcomed three new bishops as well as apostolate administrator of the Diocese of Vinh Long, who recently joined the Bishops’ Conference.

Moreover, Archbishop president of CBCV gave thanks to Cardinal Archbishop John Baptist Phạm Minh Mẫn, his Coadjutor Archbishop and Auxiliary Bishop for hosting this assembly at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center.

Finally, Archbishop Nhơn conveyed his hope for all the dioceses and the Episcopal Commissions to share their activities, discussions, and pastoral visions in the spirit of neo-evangelization of the universal Church under the intercession of Our Lady of Rosary and in fraternal affection for each other.

Before the adjournment of this first session, Bishop General Secretary of CBCV announced the detailed agenda for this assembly: The election of the next Central Secretariat and Leadership of the Commissions of CBCV for the term of 2013-1016, pastoral planning for the final Assembly’s letter to the faithful, the organization of the Office of General Secretary of CBCV, norms for the establishment of the religious congregation in the dioceses, and the construction of Basilica of Our Lady of La Vang, etc.