Delegates from Hoa Hao Buddhist chapters nationwide gathered at An Hoa Pagoda in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on May 22 for the sect's fourth congress for the 2014-2019 term.
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| Followers of Hoa Hao Buddhist Church in An Giang province |
Delegates from Hoa Hao Buddhist chapters nationwide gathered at An Hoa Pagoda in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on May 22 for the sect’s fourth congress for the 2014-2019 term.
The congress’ opening ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and head of the Government’s Committee for Religious Affairs Pham Dung and representatives from the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation, the Vietnam Fatherland Front’s Central Committee and the Steering Committee for the South-western Region.
The congress elected a 27-member Central Executive Board of the sect, headed by Nguyen Tan Dat.
In its action programme for the fourth tenure, the Central Executive Board of Hoa Hao Buddhist Sect said it will continue upholding achievements reached in the last tenure, contributing to promoting moral values and national culture quintessence.
The sect will also work to foster more social and charitable activities, thus joining hands with other religions and people nationwide in the national construction process.
During the third tenure lasting from 2009-2014, Hoa Hao Buddhist built many houses for the poor and bridges in rural areas, and presented gifts to the needy at a total sum of more than 734 billion VND (nearly 34.5 million USD).
Founded in 1939 in An Giang province, the Hoa Hao Buddhist sect has developed in 19 provinces and cities nationwide with over 2 million followers.
(Source:VNA)
