In response the campaign motivating people to develop a new-style rural development in residential areas, local Catholics have voluntary donated thousands of working days and land for building concrete roads with the total contributing value of over 14.5 billion VND, sent reliefs worth nearly 1 billion VND to people affected by floods in Quan Son district, raised 115 million VND for the Fund “For the Poor”, and built and repaired 23 charity houses with the total contributing values over 1 billion VND.

Another typical example amongst Catholic community in Minh Tan commune of Vinh Loc district is Head of the pastoral council of Ke Ben parish Lê Văn Đông. He is always a pioneer with a leading role in social movements and programs launched by local authorities.

Mr. Lê Văn Đông also runs Phuong Dong trading service company which produces fine art stones with monthly revenue of hundreds of millions VND and creates jobs for 15 people with the monthly income from 7 to 10 million.

In addition, he also proactively encouraged local Catholics to actively participate in practical activities for socio-economic development in the locality including voluntary donation of money, working days and land for building rural roads, clean their houses, plant flowers to replace weed along roads, etc.

For the past three years, as Head of the pastoral council of Van Lung parish, Mr. Bùi Công Bằng, in Thanh Long commune of Thach Thanh district has successfully encouraged local parishioners to donate 3.4 billion VND and 215 working days in building 11.4 km of inter-village roads, 4 km of inland roads, two schools with national standards, the local medical clinics, and setting up 171 electric lighting poles in residential areas, etc.

These are just three out of many typical examples among Catholics in Thanh Hoa province. They have been joining efforts for boosting development in the locality with motto “Living the Gospel in the heart of the nation”.

PH (thanh hoa newspaper)