Attending the conference were Bishop Cosme Hoàng Văn Đạt, bishop of Bac Ninh diocese (former clergyman of the Society of Jesus), priests, clergyman and followers in Ho Chi Minh archdiocese. Priest Anthony Nguyễn Cao Siêu and priest Phạm Thanh Liêm – Superiors General of the Jesuit Provincial of Vietnam chaired the conference.

At the opening of the conference, priest Anthony Nguyễn Cao Siêu emphasized the important contributions of Priest Alexandre de Rhodes and Girolamo Maiorica to Vietnam’s culture in helping create Latin Vietnamese national language and translated the Bible into Vietnamese language…

Contents of the conference include 2 main themes:

The first theme “Trinity and filial piety– a cultural integration effort. Confucian culture in past Vietnam” presented by priest Paul Anthony Trần Quốc Anh. The theme content emphasized “cultural integration” of Jesuit missionaries. Promoting Catholic values in order ​​to create similarity with other religions, such as Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and integrate into the spiritual life of Vietnamese people.

The second theme “Language symbols in doctrines. The doctrinate book of Father G. Maiorica and cultural integration initiatives” presented by priest Francis Nguyễn Hai Tính. The theme content emphasized contributions by Catholics figures in development in Nom (old written Vietnamese language). Especially, priest G. Maiorica, author of 48 books written by the Nom.

Beside two main themes, delegates discussed about issues regarding integration into Vietnam culture by Catholicism./.

Minh Giang