For Vietnamese, “Lunar Tet” is really important and meaningful days of reunion and generosity. That is not only a traditional festival of Vietnamese, but it also particular culture to show gratitude to our ancestor and give our best thankfulness to parents.  Being back my beloved Thanhhoa diocese to enjoy and celebrate New Year with my family, relatives, I got interesting experiences and noteworthy memories.

In excited atmosphere of spring, everybody often go shopping for clothes, decorate the house and make some traditional foods such as Chung Cake, lean - pork paste. If you go around Thanhhoa city in special days, you will engulf in many kinds of flowers with gaudy color. In spring, although the weather was bad with small drizzling rain, the streets still became more crowed with many vehicles and business exchanging activities was in a rush. Unlike sufficient life of city, the life in countryside and rural areas becomes more hard and difficult. The poor life makes Tet holiday humdrum and cold with long mountains and rank trees.

However, for Thanhhoa Diocese, they are people who have to be interested in material and spirit and they have to be introduced about love of the Lord spaciously. Tet is suitable time of heart of gold and affectionate sentiments of all of people with each other. Therefore, Thanhhoa Diocese had short itineraries to bring the heart of love to everyone who are in remote areas. “Union is invaluable heritage of Thanhhoa Diocese!”. This is an affirmation about power and union of diocese. That sentence printed in catholic’s mind with proudness. The union in each spring itinerary is sharing, sympathy and small gifts to poor, ill and unhappy people in society. Muong Lat  and Quan Hoa district are more difficult two places of Thanhhoa where have some ethnic groups such as H’Mong ethnic. Papua and Suoiton are quite and interesting places to enjoy mountains, high hills: however, no matter how hard the life of people is , everyone still cherishes the Lord with all their heart. They showed their friendliness and hospitality through smile, shaking hand.  The simple presents such as blanket, screen, rice, salt, candy, cake...were awarded to everybody with all heart of vicars, benefactors, sisters, students. Certainly, the Lord will feel satisfied and bless for sincere hearts and His Christian believers.

Being a Catholic, I think that I am a lucky person because I have a rather sufficient life with parents, sister, brother and relatives; moreover, I go to school and can do what I want. More boringly, in Vietnam, there are many unlucky person. They have lost both their parents, do not go to school and they even get malformations. How unfortunate they are! With special circumstances, Thanhhoa diocese always extends hand to help, sympathize and appease their pains. Therefore, in Tet Holiday, ChinhToa carol organized a visiting to Quynh Lap Lepers’ Hospital. I have much time getting in touch and talking with some members of the carol, so I think that they are young people, have aspiration for future and hope to enrich the church. Coming to Quynh Lap, they seem to be enlarged their heart, eyes to compare and experience the life. They can be born in rich family and do not have to worry or do everything such as washing dishes, wrapping Chung Cake; however, they showed their friendliness, amiability through helping everyone many works. I can believe that this is meaningful travelling because it connected many people, circumstances and classes in society in the same voice, song and heart. Tet is the time getting together all members in family, for all that everyone in Quynh Lap have to leave family to isolate because of illness. Therefore, ChinhToa carol’s gifts not only are material but it also is sharing and noble sentiment of Catholics. Each person in Quynhlap Lepers’ Hospital has special and different situation; however, they have confidence in life for their descendants.

As for Thanhhoa catholic student, they had meaningful itinerary in Cam Thuy Lepers’ Hospital. Because of student, they are enthusiastic, active, and friendly and want to bring joyfulness for all people neither money nor material, but that is singing, shaking hand, smile and interesting games. All that itineraries left many experiences, valuable tasks and joyfulness for all people. That is beautiful memories to connect heart and feelings. That is signification of Tet Festival.  That is information I got through Thanhhoa diocese website, because I do not have condition to take part in that meaningful itineraries. However, I hope I will be participated the itineraries directly with priests, sisters, students and communication committee to have feelings real with poor and difficult persons in society. And that is my expectation in New Year 2012.

Tet knocked at the door and opened up new events. Eveypeople wish for a New Year happy, peaceful, lucky, and successful. In addition, they often go to Pagodas, Churches or Temples to pick the bud and pray. The flowers flourished and brought many promising for a New Year. As for Catholics, everyone often go to the Church to meet each other, forgive for each other’s mistakes and pray for family, relative and friends. What is more, the Lord is love and He is always just, so Catholics not only pray for themselves, but also for all people who they hate, for world. Heaven and Earth changed with thousands of kinds of flowers, fruits. More importantly, Five fruits tray is specific feature of Tet festival. That shows respect, thankfulness and wishes with all sincerity.

In the first day of the New Year, we often get together in warm Church to take part in the New Year Mass. At 5.30 in the morning of the first day, the bell ringed and gave the signal for changing of Heaven and Earth. Although it was rain and cold, all everybody in Chinh Toa Parish went to the Church crowed. ChinhToa parish is a big one and it is very hard to gather everyone weekday. It was very wonderful and proud time when I participated a diligent mass like that. In the homily of Joseph Nguyen Chi Linh, I remembered exactly his words. “In 12 animal designation, dragon is imaginary animal and more unique. It is symbolic of power, intelligence and success. ..And dragon year is love’s one.”  The bell, singing and shaking hand made for Cathedral excited. “Spring came up on the countryside and all over the fields. I beg the Lord for Vietnam  peaceful...” Those are simple words of us to offer the Lord and hope His blessing.

In the end of the Mass, we were taken part in an important ceremony. That plucked buds. One is not normal buds. nevertheless, the word of the Lord will follow Catholic during a year. The holy bubs are word of Lord that were selected in Bible. It was hung on the peach tree or apricot tree in the Church.  Each word of Lord will bring peace and luckiness for people and I believe that it is suitable for each person and family. “Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil” (Mt6: 34) The Lord knows everything and understand thoroughly us. He knows what we need and want without saying a word. The life is very hard; however, if we offer everything for the lord, we will feel easy to pass all. Today is the Lord’s Day, so is tomorrow. “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God” (Mt 4;4).

In tradition of Vietnam, in the first days of the New Year, everyone visit each other, give the best wishes and give lucky money for children and elderly people. The child was worn new clothes and hold red envelope running around the house. How innocent they are! For me, I had a meaningful Tet holiday with my family and my friends. In the second day of Tet, I was gone Ke Rua and Ke Ben parish to visit some my friends. Ke Rua is quite poor Parish, but catholic’s belief in Lord never exhaust. People were friendly and hospitable. I think that I was grown up and had more self- confident to enter the future. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for their is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:3)

Happy new year

Happy new year

May we all have a vision now and then

Of a world where every neighbour is a friend

Happy new year

Happy new year

May we all have our hopes, our will to try

If we don't we might as well lay down and die

You and I

Happy New Year 2012 to everyone!  In my heart, I always pray for all of you happy and peaceful and wish that you will get many best wishes for New Year. I always wish that Thanhhoa diocese will develop and innovate.

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In Christ
Maria Thuy