Ke So Church, Ninh Binh provinceThe core nucleus and economic driving force at the grassroots level
In Xuan Truong commune, where the Catholic community accounts for 41.5% of the population, patriotic emulation movements have been implemented extensively and systematically, aligned with key local tasks. The commune’s Party organization currently comprises 83 Party cells and 2,604 Party members, including 216 Catholics. These members consistently uphold their pioneering and exemplary roles, serving as a solid bridge that brings the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws into the daily lives of the Catholic community.
According to Mr. Pham Duy Chinh, Permanent Deputy Secretary of Xuan Truong Commune Party Committee, the Party Committee always focuses on leading the entire political system to effectively carry out mass mobilization work, especially taking advantage of and promoting the role of dignitaries and religious officials. Thanks to that, parishioners are oriented to actively respond to campaigns, social security and humanitarian activities. Many exemplary Catholic Party members and parishioners’ families have spread a spirit of responsibility and community cohesion, making significant contributions to the locality’s revitalized appearance.
Under the National Target Program on New Rural Development, Xuan Truong has achieved outstanding results: 48 out of 54 villages have met the standards for “model residential areas”, all 54 villages have maintained the “Cultural village” title, and over 91% of Catholic households have met the “Cultural family” standards. In order to improve local infrastructure, the Catholic community voluntarily donated land for road construction and contributed thousands of man-days of labor. A notable example is Trung Linh village, where 67 households voluntarily donated 690 square meters of residential land and 390 square meters of agricultural land to expand the rural road network.
Alongside donating land, Catholic households have boldly adopted scientific and technical advancements to expand large-scale production. Numerous Catholic-owned production facilities within the Xuan Tien Industrial Cluster as well as those in mechanical engineering, machinery manufacturing and concrete casting craft villages are operating effectively, providing stable employment for local workers and accelerating the process of economic restructuring.
Preserving craft villages and fostering a civilized lifestyle
In Xuan Hung commune, the Catholic community accounts for over 36% of the population, comprising more than 19,000 people across six parishes and 19 sub-parishes. Emulation movements here have been tailored to local occupational strengths, driving significant improvements in both economic and cultural life.
Mr. Dinh Cong Khai of Phu Nhai Parish shared that the parish has actively encouraged parishioners to shift their economic activities and to maintain and develop traditional crafts such as lace embroidery for religious institutions and wood carving alongside garment workshops and transportation services. These economic models have created jobs for hundreds of local workers, providing them with stable incomes.
In addition to pursuing economic development, Catholic parishioners in Xuan Hung Commune are at the forefront of the movement to create “bright, green, clean and beautiful” residential areas; they voluntarily maintain environmental hygiene and adopt civilized practices regarding weddings, funerals and festivals. They are also always ready to join hands in donating to and supporting impoverished families and those facing hardship.
The spirit of solidarity and unity among the Catholic community continues to be evident in Xuan Giang Commune where Catholics make up 23.7% of the population and the religious infrastructure includes five parish churches and twelve sub-parish chapels. Mr. Le Thanh Liem, Secretary of the Party Cell for village 32 (a village comprising 388 households and 1,442 residents, with Catholics accounting for approximately 30%), stated that effective community outreach has ensured broad consensus on all policies and initiatives. A notable highlight is that parishioners voluntarily donated land and contributed labor to widen the main route spanning nearly one kilometer from a narrow 1-2 meter path into a spacious 6-meter-wide road, thereby facilitating travel and trade. Catholic Party members in the village consistently set an example by taking the lead and actively encouraging residents to maintain public order and security while fostering a peaceful neighborhood.
Strengthening solidarity, aiming for sustainable development
Following the administrative boundary merger, the province now comprises 330 parishes, 1,017 sub-parishes, 561 clergy members, 1,959 religious, and 952 lay leaders, serving a Catholic community of over 750,000 believers. Local Party committees and authorities consistently respect and guarantee the freedom of belief, creating a favorable environment for the faithful to practice their religion with peace of mind and actively participate in social activities.
The practice of the patriotic emulation movement among Catholics in Ninh Binh province in recent times has affirmed: when religious faith accompanies national and ethnic interests, and the Party's will is in harmony with the people, the strength of great solidarity will be multiplied. This serves as a crucial foundation and a tremendous resource driving Ninh Binh province’s comprehensive and sustainable development./.
