Distinguished guests at the ceremony included former State President Trương Tấn Sang, former State Vice President Trương Mỹ Hoa, former Secretary of Ho Chi Minh city Party’s Committee Lê Thanh Hải and Vice Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Trần Tấn Hùng.

Vice Chairman Trần Tấn Hùng presents congratulatory flowers to Priest Joseph  Phan Khắc Từ

Priest Joseph Phan Khắc Từ is currently Vice President cum General Secretary of  the Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics and Editor of the Catholicism and Nation Newspaper .

Before 1975, Priest Joseph Phan Khắc Từ joined the Saigon Workers' Movement and other organizations advocating peace and the implementation of Paris Agreement. He also served as Vice Chairman of the hunger relief movement, Chairman of Committee for protection of laborers’ rights.

From 1975 onward, priest Joseph Phan Khắc Từ held many posts including Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh city Trade Union and Vice Chairman of the city relief association of handicapped children. He was also elected as Member of the Ho Chi Minh city’s People's Council at the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th legislature; Deputy of the National Assembly at the 8^th, 9^th and 10^th legislature, member of the Committee for Social Affairs of National Assembly at the 9^th and 10^th legislature, and Member of the Central Committee of Vietnam Fatherland Front and Ho Chi Minh city.

PH