Vietnamese Bishops began 2nd Semiannual Assembly in Thanh Hóa

 On Monday afternoon, October 8, 2012, the Bishops of twenty four dioceses of Vietnam arrived in Thanh Hóa to begin their 2^nd Semiannual Assembly. Since Bishops Joseph Vũ Duy Thống of Phan Thiết and Joseph Nguyễn Năng of Phát Diệm are attending at the XIII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome, they are unable to join this assembly.

A formal welcoming ceremony was held before the supper, at which Bishop Joseph Nguyễn Chí Linh, Bishop of Thanh Hóa and Vice President of CBCV, welcomed all members of CBCV to his diocese. A special welcome went to Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, Non-resident Representative of the Holy See to Vietnam, who joined the assembly.

After the supper, all the Bishops gathered for Benediction in the Chapel. At 8:30 PM, the 2^nd Semiannual Assembly began in the newly built conference room of the diocesan Pastoral Center. Archbishop Peter Nguyễn Văn Nhơn of Archdiocese of Hà Nội, President of CBCV, inaugurated the assembly. He expressed the joy and gratitude of the Church in Vietnam as CBCV celebrated Archbishop Girelli’s presence on behalf of the Holy Father. Archbishop Nhơn also gave thanks to those Bishops who have recently been accepted for retirement from the Holy Father: Archbishop Stephen Nguyễn Như Thể of Huế, Bishops Peter Nguyễn Soạn of Qui Nhơn and Peter Trần Đình Tứ of Phú Cường.

Bishop Cosme Hoàng Văn Đạt of Bắc Ninh, General Secretary of CBCV, introduced the agenda for this assembly. The agenda includes discussions about the pastoral activities for the “Year of Faith” at diocesan and parish’s levels in celebrating the 50^th Anniversary of Vatican II, hosting the 10th Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conference (November 19-25, 2012), planning on establishment of the National Institute for Theology, the construction of the National Pilgrim Center of Our Lady of Lavang, the construction of CBCV’s offices, revising of the Policy and Norms of CBCV, etc.

Then Archbishop Girelli gave his remarks to thank for the hospitality he has received during his past visitations to the dioceses, especially here in Thanh Hóa.

The 2^nd Semiannual Assembly of CBCV is held in Thanh Hóa, 200 kilometers from Hà Nội, from October 8 to 12. On this occasion, the diocese of Thanh Hóa will launch the Jubilee year for its 80th Anniversary of the erection of the diocese.