A role model of integrating religious and secular affairs

Priest Tran Xuan Thao just turns 85 this year. Over his 57 years of priesthood, he spent 42 years serving as Chairman of the Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics (CSVC) of Dong Nai province.

Priest Tran Xuan Thao representing the delegation of the provincial Catholic followers delivers a speech before departing to attend the 6th National Patriotic Emulation Congress commending good people and good deeds among Catholic community, period 2020-2025, held in Hanoi City. Photo: Van Truyen

Recently, at the 6th National Patriotic Emulation Congress commending good people and good deeds among Catholic community, for 2020-2025 period, held on September 10 and 11 in Hanoi City, Priest Tran Xuan Thao was one of 3 Catholics from Dong Nai honored at the event.

Trusted to be elected as Chairman of 8th Dong Nai provincial Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics

Sharing about the journey of implementing religious and secular duties, Priest Tran Xuan Thao said: He has always kept in mind that he must help everyone understand religion and help Catholics understand life. At the same time, he remains consistent with the goal of leading a good life and following a beautiful religion.

Therefore, besides his religious duties, Priest Tran Xuan Thao has proactively joined the Central and provincial CSVCs with the desire to be a bridge between the Party, the authorities and religion. From 1983 until now, he has been elected 8 times as Chairman of the Dong Nai provincial CSVC. At present, Priest Tran Xuan Thao is the first and only chairman since the establishment of the Dong Nai provincial CSVC until now. During this time, he also held the position of Vice Chairman of the CSVC.

In his role as a leader of the Central and Dong Nai provincial CSVCs, he contributed to establishing the CSVCs at district level in all districts and cities of the former Dong Nai province. At the same time, he met with priests, clergymen, and parishioners to encourage them to participate in patriotic emulation movements and life development campaigns launched by the State. Because, according to him, the activities launched by the authorities ultimately aim at improving people’s quality of life, which is also what the religion aspires to.

Especially during the harsh times of life requiring unity and joint effort of all the people, such as when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, from the mobilization of the authorities, religions participated in pandemic prevention and control. During that time, under the influence of Priest Tran Xuan Thao, of the former Dong Nai provincial CSVC, the former district-level CSVCs, along with many other factors, there were more than 800 priests, clergymen, and parishioners standing side by side with other forces on the front line when the country and Dong Nai province needed to push back the pandemic.

Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Dong Nai province Nguyen Tan Phu said: In recent times, together with the provincial CSVC, Priest Tran Xuan Thao has served as a bridge between religion and life, contributing significantly to implementing patriotic emulation movements.

At the 6th National Patriotic Emulation Congress commending good people and good deeds among Catholics, period 2020-2025, held on September 10 and 11 in Hanoi City, Catholic community in Dong Nai province had 3 individuals honored at the event, including: Priest Tran Xuan Thao, Chairman of the provincial CSVC; Priest Nguyen Minh Chanh, Vice Chairman of the provincial CSVC; nun Bui Thi Hong Hanh, Deputy Chief of Office of the provincial CSVC.

Striving to build a bridge

In recent times, especially in 2025, although his health has greatly declined due to his advanced age, Priest Tran Xuan Thao always tries not to be absent from conferences where his presence is needed.

Priest Tran Xuan Thao shared: “I try to be present with dignitaries, officials, and everyone, first of all, to provide moral support in activities. In addition, with my experience in religious and secular matters, I can share my personal perspective for others to consider.”

For example, at the time when the whole country embarked on restructuring the organizational apparatus, district-level CSVC ceased operation. Priests, clergymen and parishioners worried that the connection with parishes would no longer exist. Priest Tran Xuan Thao went to each locality to meet and explain to everyone that when this operational model ends, it is replaced by a more effective model that is suited to the administrative apparatus and capable of achieving better practical results.

In addition, Priest Tran Xuan Thao, together with the provincial CSVC, the former district-level CSVC and authorities at all levels propagated the major policy of the country in restructuring the organizational apparatus to help people understand clearly the Party’s and authorities’ policy.

Moreover, although no longer directly managing the Hanoi Parish Orphanage Nurturing Center (Long Binh ward), Priest Tran Xuan Thao still spends time visiting and encouraging orphans being cared for there; at the same time, he connects agencies, units, and benefactors to join hands in caring for the orphans at the center.

With his contributions to both religious and secular matters, Tran Xuan Thao is the first priest in Dong Nai to be awarded the Third-class Independence Medal by the authorities. In addition, this senior priest has also received many commendations from central to local levels.

According to Deputy Director of the Hanoi Parish Orphanage Nurturing Center Vu Thi Kim Lien, in 1990, Priest Tran Xuan Thao and others discovered a child abandoned in the last row of pews of Hanoi parish church after the Mass had ended. Also from that time, Priest Tran Xuan Thao took responsibility for caring for orphans, and the center was established then. Many generations have since grown up, and those attached to the center always remember his teaching to do a good job in both religious and secular matters, thereby joining hands with the society to provide ethical education and take good care of the children at the center.

By Van Truyen - Translated by Minh Hanh, Thu Ha