Holy Christmas coming with warmth, peace and happiness

Christmas is knocking on our doors with festive celebrations by Christians and residents sharing the best wishes for a Merry Christmas to family members, friends and loved ones.

Festive joy and happiness

Hoa Nghia Parish, Cam Duc Town, where there are the most parishioners in Cam Lam District, is impressive with Christmas decorations, lanterns, a 1.5m Christmas tree and colorful lights all the way to Hoa Nghia Church; and a magnificent nativity cave featuring a legendary birth of Jesus with splendid miniature living landscapes around.

Children are excited and having fun in the Christmas atmosphere.

Christmas caves are also seen in front of homes. A parishioner named Vo Be said, “I would like to celebrate the festive season conveying the message that the religion is always blended with the national culture.”

In Hoa Yen Parish, Cam Duc Town, next to a giant nativity cave at the main church gate is an angle red pomegranate tree as the highlight and wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Everyone is in the bustle of preparing for the Christmas Eve, making illuminated festive decorations with appealing miniature living landscapes and colorful lights; singing carols, etc., and other church services. Many are excited to take photos as memories.

In Nha Trang City, the Christmas atmosphere seems to have come earlier with Christmas tree lighting-up at many restaurants and hotels. Churches are embellished to mark the advent of the festive season. The parishes of Ba Lang, Thanh Hai, Nui San, Bac Thanh, Phuoc Hoa, etc. are illuminated with Christmas trees, thousands of twinkling stars, lights and colorful gift boxes.

There are various decor ideas for Christmas caves at churches, parish communities and homes. Each has its own festive decoration, but all are looking forward to a holy and meaningful Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Hoa Nghia parishioners (Cam Lam District) decorate a Christmas cave.

Good deeds and kindness expanding 

Located next to Binh Cang Parish, Vinh Trung Commune, Nha Trang City, Mau Tam Clinic by Nha Trang Immaculate Heart of Mary Congregation is open for poor patients. The clinic has 12 dedicated doctors and nurses with ultrasound, X-ray, electroencephalogram, electrocardiogram and other testing services.

A patient named Pham Thi Ai Diem in Dien An Commune, Dien Khanh District said, “I got my vestibular disorder treated here. I’m feeling much better now. The medical examination and consultation are free and service costs are low, so many come here for examination.”

According to Nun Phuong Ha, the clinic was established in 2018 for charitable purposes. The service costs here are only half of those at some similar medical facilities. Medical check-ups and treatment are free for poor people. In addition, one Saturday every month, the clinic coordinates with local priests to provide free medical examinations and medicines for poor patients, benefiting around 50 - 100 patients. The examination, medicines and gifts are worth nearly VND1 million/person.

A patient named Pham Thi Ai Diem at Mau Tam Clinic by Nha Trang Immaculate Heart of Mary Congregation.

Nuns at Sao Mai Care and Education Facility for Disabled Children (Phuoc Dong Commune, Nha Trang City) provide care for children with disabilities. According to Nun Nha Trang, Principal of Sao Mai Care and Education Facility for Disabled Children, the facility is taking care of 73 disabled students from kindergarten to 24 years old, divided into different classes for autism, hearing loss, developmental delay, down syndrome, etc. Some are completely exempt from tuitions; others benefit from a 30 to 50% reduction.

“Kids learn basic life skills, including eating, personal hygiene and other skills essential for living independently or fully participating in an assisted living community,” added Nun Nha Trang.

Kids at Sao Mai Care and Education Facility for Disabled Children pose with Santa Clauses.

Promoting the motto “Good religion and good citizenship”, Christians in the province have contributed to the provincial development, the national security, solidarity and growth. According to Priest Nguyen Hoa, Chairman of the Provincial Catholic Solidarity Committee, Phu Sa Parish Priest (Vinh Ngoc Commune, Nha Trang City), the patriotic emulation campaign of Christians has developed, contributing to improving the material and spiritual life and promoting local solidarity and socio-economic growth.

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way! Christmas Eve is coming so close…

Dung Ly

Translated by N.T