Joy of Christmas

To welcome the 2025 Christmas season, from early December, priests and parishioners at Tay Hai Parish (in Long Binh Ward) began decorating nativity scenes at the church. At the same time, residents in the locality decorated Christmas trees, built nativity grottos, and strung twinkling lights from the entrance gates to house porches, working together to make the alleys and neighborhoods sparkle during the Christmas season.

A nearly 10-meter-tall Christmas tree made of grass at An Khuong Parish (Tan Hung Commune). Photo: Van Truyen

The joy of celebrating this momentous December feast at Tay Hai Parish is also the shared sentiment of more than 1.4 million Catholic, Protestant, and Seventh-day Adventist believers in Dong Nai Province this Christmas season.

Joy of December

This year’s Christmas brings even more joy, as in early December 2025, the Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics (CSVC) of Dong Nai Province completed the consolidation of its personnel following the merger of the former CSVC committees of Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc provinces.

Father Tran Xuan Thao, Chairman of the Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics of Dong Nai Province, stated that the committee's members include representatives of priests, nuns, and exemplary lay Catholics. This undertaking holds significant meaning in fostering the great national unity bloc, as the provincial committee serves as a bridge between the Party, government authorities, and religious dignitaries, clergy, and laypeople in the province. Therefore, the unification and consolidation of the committee’s personnel, carried out in parallel with the establishment of the two-tier local government structure, reflects a shared commitment to the common good and to the province’s development.

Parishioners of Bien Hoa Parish (Tran Bien Ward) complete a Christmas nativity scene. Photo: Van Truyen

At the 6th National Patriotic Emulation Congress honoring “Good People, Good Deeds” among Catholics for the 2020–2025 period, held in Hanoi, Dong Nai’s Catholic community had four individuals recognized: Father Tran Xuan Thao, Chairman of the provincial CSVC; Father Nguyen Minh Chanh, Vice Chairman; Father Le Van Nang, Vice Chairman; and Sister Bui Thi Hong Hanh, Deputy Chief of the Office of the provincial CSC.

In addition, 2025 has seen many churches complete new construction or renovation projects, reflecting the province’s attention to religious activities. Pastor Phan Dinh Hao, representative of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (South), said that provincial authorities at all levels have actively facilitated and supported the church in resolving procedures related to land, construction, and the organization of religious activities. The church hopes to continue receiving even greater support from the province so that the spiritual life of religious communities can continue to flourish.

Sharing with the less fortunate

Father Nguyen Minh Chanh, Vice Chairman of the provincial CSVC, stated that in 2025, Catholics in Dong Nai Province continued to promote charitable and social activities through meaningful and practical initiatives, with a total funding of 252 billion VND for such activities.

A child beside a Bethlehem nativity scene (Tam Hiep Ward). Photo: Hong Thoai

According to Father Nguyen Manh Cuong, Dean of Tan Mai Deanery and Deputy Head of the Caritas Xuan Loc Social–Charitable Committee, during a Mass held at the Pilgrimage Center of Our Lady of Nui Cui (Thong Nhat Commune) in late November 2025, Bishop Do Van Ngan of the Xuan Loc Diocese called on clergy, church officials, and believers to engage in activities supporting communities affected by natural disasters. Accordingly, while Christmas decorations would still be put up, efforts were made to economize by reusing materials from previous years. Most of the funds intended initially for decorations were instead allocated to assist residents in disaster-hit provinces.

Additionally, each parish organized practical support activities for people with low incomes, elderly seniors, and children within their communities. Responding to this call, the Caritas Xuan Loc Social–Charitable Committee recently donated 500 million VND to the provincial Fund for the Poor. At the same time, the Xuan Loc Diocese contributed several billion VND to aid disaster-affected provinces and sent delegations to deliver relief supplies and gifts to local people.

Furthermore, as part of efforts to care for those in difficult circumstances, this Christmas season, An Khuong Parish organized a “meal of love” for people with disabilities, older people, and children, and distributed new clothing to disadvantaged individuals so that everyone could joyfully celebrate Christmas together.

By Van Truyen - Translated by Trieu Ngan, Minho