The event saw the participation of Priest Acting Chairman cum General Secretary of the Vietnam Catholics’ solidarity committee Joseph Trần Xuân Mạnh, Priest Chairman of the CSVC in the city for the 7th tenure Joseph Phan Khắc Từ, representatives from Ho Chi Minh city Archdiocese’s congregations and deaneries, other religious organizations and CSVC in several other provinces and cities, and nearly 900 Catholic delegates in the city.

Distinguished guests at the event included Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs (GCRA) Vũ Chiến Thắng, GCRA Vice Chairman Trần Tấn Hùng, Standing Deputy Secretary of HCM City’s Party Committee Tất Thành Cang and Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF)’s committee in the city Tô Thị Bích Châu.

Chairman Vũ Chiến Thắng presents congratulations to the CSVC in the city

The 8th general conference of the CSVC in the city was considered as a milestone marking the 33-year journey of the Catholic solidarity committee with many continuous contributions to the national unity and social development in the city.

The one-day event approved the report on the patriotic movement and the solidarity committee’s activities for the 7th term and approved working plan for the 2018-2023 tenure with the target to promote the standing of the CSVC in the city in the 8^th term.

The general conference also elected 27 members to the executive board of the CSVC in the city for the 8th term (2018-2023) and Priest Joseph Phan Khắc Từ re-elected as the committee chairman in the new term.

At the general congress

On the occasion, the CSVC in the city and Priest Joseph Phan Khắc Từ were presented with the first-class Labor Medal by the State President, three Catholic individuals were presented with the Prime Minister's certificate of merit. In addition, municipal authorities presented certificates of recommendation to several Catholic groups and individuals for their outstanding contributions in patriotic movements launched in the locality over the past five years.

DT