The parishioners of Dong Gianh Parish, Phu Thanh commune (Lac Thuy) decorate the stone cave preparing for Christmas.

Every year, on December 25, Christmas is also known as Noel, a holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus. This is the most important holiday of Catholics and Protestants.

We visited Go Mu Parish, Thanh Cao commune (Luong Son), the atmosphere of Christmas preparations filled the parish. The parishioners have actively participated in the work of sweeping cobwebs, wiping chairs in the cathedral, decorating the stone cave... to make the church clean, beautiful, and bright to celebrate Christmas. Mr. Pham Van Hau, the parishioner of Quen Danh family, Go Mu Parish says: The parish has 9 parishes with 1,500 parishioners. To celebrate this Christmas season, we have redecorated the church and swept the entrance to the parish. In the families, the people also decorate the flower lights around the house, wishing for a peaceful and happy new year.

At Dong Gianh Parish, Phu Thanh commune (Lac Thuy), right outside the church entrance, there are many parishioners stringing lights, hanging flowers, and decorating the stone cave to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Mr. Bui Van Can, the Parish Priest of Dong Gianh Parish says: The parish has 2 parishes with over 1,700 parishioners. In recent years, with the attention of the Party and the State and the guidance of dignitaries and officials, the parishioners' life has continuously developed. Christmas helps people get closer, care and share with each other more, wish for peace and happiness, the people are very excited, eagerly waiting, working together towards faith in God, living a good and beautiful life…

In the province, there are 7 parishes, 54 religious families, and believers in 70 communes, wards, and towns in 10 districts and in the city. Regarding the worship facilities, there are 7 parish churches and 6 family churches in the whole province. In recent times, Catholic people of the province have always united, joined forces, and agreed to build cultural life in residential areas. Many families have taken the lead, contributing effort and money to build model new rural residential areas, actively participating in humanitarian, charity, and pro-poor movements..., contributing to the socio - economic development in the area. The charitable and social activities are of interest to Catholic dignitaries and compatriots. In particular, Hoa Binh Parish has donated 120 sets of gifts, worth 24 million VND to the poor and disadvantaged households belonging to the parishes. Dong Gianh Parish has donated 120 sets of gifts, Khoan Du Parish (Lac Thuy) has donated 1,600 sets of gifts to the poor Catholic households...

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tu, the Deputy Director of the Department of Home Affairs, says: To show the Party and State's concern for the religious organizations in general, Catholicism and Protestantism in particular, and encourage the Catholic and Protestant dignitaries, positions and believers further promote the spirit of patriotism and cultural values in religion, consolidate and build the great national unity bloc, and continue to operate in the direction of integrating adhere, accompany with the nation, and obey the law. The Department of Home Affairs has advised the province to develop a program to visit and give gifts to the religious organizations on the occasion of Christmas in 2023. The members of the Provincial Standing Party Committee, the People's Council, the People's Committee, the Provincial Fatherland Front and the local authorities visited, gave gifts, and congratulated the priests, the monks, and all Catholics in the parishes for a peaceful and happy Christmas; continueing to promote the tradition of patriotism, living a good life, being virtuous to serve the God, serve the Fatherland and the people...

Christmas is now not only for Catholics but it is also for the whole community with the desire to join hands to build a prosperous and happy life. This is also an opportunity to send love, for the family reunions, and the neighborers gather to wish each other a Merry Christmas. In the melodious music of hymns and colorful decorative lights, the believers and non-believers alike express their emotions, convey their beliefs and wishes for a peaceful world and happy famlies, the people are closer to each other in love and kindness. Having peace, warmth, and peace during Christmas season and preparing to welcome the new year 2024 is thanks to the important achievements in the overall socio-economic development of the province, the lives of people in general, and Catholic people. in particular is improving day by day. The footsteps of a large number of people and parishioners heading towards the cathedral are also towards the good faith in a good, peaceful and happy life, and a bright future.