Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vũ Chiến Thắng(R) and Sister General Counselor Trần Khên

Joining the reception included Vice Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Nguyễn Ánh Chức.

During the reception, Sister General Counselor Trần Khên shared with the hosts about the Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres. According to the sister, the congregation was established in 1696 and operated in fields of preschool education, patient care and helping the poor; the congregation currently has over 4,200 nuns in 40 countries around the world. In Vietnam, the congregation has four provincial sub-congregations with more than 1,000 nuns (accounting for 25% of the total number of the Congregation worldwide).

Welcoming the delegation, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs informed about the approval of the Regulation on the operation of the Holy See’s Resident Representative in Vietnam on occasion of the visit by the State President of Vietnam Võ Văn Thưởng to the Vatican on July 27.

At the reception

Expressing his delight at the growth of relations between Vietnam and the Vatican, the Deputy Minister affirmed that the Party and State of Vietnam have consistently respected and guaranteed people’s right to freedom of religion and belief, met legitimating rights and interests of religions.

According to the Deputy Minister, the Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres in Vietnam has made practical contributions in fields of social charities, health and preschool education, etc. Especially, during the Covid-19 pandemic, sisters of the Congregation actively joined other religious dignitaries in the treatments of the COVID-19 patients, and sent foods and medicines to people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The official highly appreciated practical contributions made by the Catholic community in general and the Sister Congregation in particular. He expressed hope that the General Counselor Sister would continue guiding sisters of the Congregation in Vietnam in fields of health and education, contributing to sustainable development of the country.

On the occasion, Deputy Minister Vũ Chiến Thắng extended best wishes of Christmas 2023 to members of the delegation and all sisters of the Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres.

On the same day, Vice Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs (GCRA) Nguyễn Ánh Chức also received and had exchanges with the delegation from the Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres at a reception held at the GCRA’s headquarters.

Overview of the reception at the GCRA’s headquarters

Anh Khôi