QUY NHON (Agenzia Fides): Gatherings of catechists, Masses and celebrations in various dioceses of Vietnam marked the traditional day dedicated to catechists, which in Vietnam coincides with the feast of Blessed Andrew of Phú Yên [1625 to 1644]. Blessed Andrew, a catechist, is the first martyr of the Church of Vietnam.
Fides reported that the national day, celebrated on July 26, reaffirmed the importance of the mission of lay catechists in the pastoral care of the Vietnamese Church.
In Mang Lang church in the province of Phú Yên, the birthplace of Blessed Andrew, in the Diocese of Quy Nhon, catechists, mostly lay people, gathered to venerate the blessed. The ancient church houses a monument dedicated to the blessed. It is one of the oldest churches in Vietnam, built in 1892 in Gothic style.
On the border with Laos and Cambodia, the Diocese of Kontum organised a meeting on the theme Synodality in Evangelisation, bringing catechists together to discuss teaching, orientation, and the challenges of catechesis. In his presentation, Father Alberto Nguyen Van Dap called on the catechists to “examine their synodal attitude. Do they listen to their neighbours? Do they discern how to discover and deepen the catechetical ministry?”
In his meeting with the catechists, Bishop Aloysius Gonzala Nguyen Hung Vi of Kontum, expressed his joy and hoped that “catechists can help children and young people discover faith and walk in the footsteps of Christ.”
Recalling the image of the heroic martyrdom of Blessed Andrew, he invited the catechists to follow his example, “Living for the Lord, bearing witness to God with word and life.”
Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Nang, diocesan administrator of Phat Diem, south of Hanoi, addressed a gathering of nearly 2,000 catechists at the cathedral, saying, “Catechists have a mission: to nourish the faith of children and young people, following the example of Blessed Andrew of Phú Yên with a spirit of unity, humility and service.”
At the sanctuary of Blessed Andrew, located in the Diocese of Da Nang, central Vietnam, Dominican Father Francis Salesio Le Van La Vinh told a meeting of catechists: “It is necessary for the catechist to live in the spirit of synodality, walking together on the way of Jesus.” He remarked that a catechist must live out three fundamental characteristics: communion, participation and mission. According to the Dominican, every catechetist is called to live in the synod’s spirit and inspire others on a faith journey of peace and unity.
Bishop Joseph Dang Duc Ngan of of Da Nang, reiterated the Lord’s invitation to “deny oneself and take up one’s cross daily and follow the Lord” [Luke 9:22-23] saying, “To surrender oneself is to accept the sufferings that come in life, and to live in love and reconciliation with others.” He invited catechists to be apostles of God’s charity and mercy in daily life, following in the footsteps of Blessed Andrew in order to live the mission received to the full.
Blessed Andrew was baptised in 1641 by the well-known French Jesuit missionary Father Alexandre de Rhodes. He followed the French missionary, helping him as a catechist. On 26 July 1644, he was sentenced to death and publicly beheaded in the city of Phuoc Kieu, in Quang Nam province. Today a special monument to him is also found in the parish of Phuoc Kieu, in the Diocese of Da Nang.
