Bishops, priests, Religious and Cursillo Movement members attend the national meeting Oct. 19-21 in Vietnam. (ucanews.com photo)
Thousands of members of an international apostolic laity movement in Vietnam were encouraged to bear witness to the Good News at a national gathering.
Some 2,000 members attended the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Cursillo Movement of Vietnam, at the national Shrine of Our Lady of Lavang in the central province of Quang Tri Oct. 19-21.
Four bishops and 40 priests were also present at the gathering.
“The Cursillo Movement is a spiritual way that helps laypeople live out their ministry like yeast, salt and light for the world,” said Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Tran Van Toan of Long Xuyen. He called on participants to love and serve people in need in their daily life.
Bishop Vincent Nguyen Van Ban of Ban Me Thuot shared his experience of living the Good News in society. When he studied in France from 1996 to 2005, he was a member of the of Cursillo Movement and led a young woman to give up heroin. “You should not be disheartened by failures but always try to encounter God through your brothers and sisters,” he said.
During the three-day gathering, participants shared their testimonies, sang hymns, danced, performed plays, prayed the Rosary, celebrated Mass.
Teresa Vu Thi Kim Loan from Long Xuyen Diocese said God changed her faith life after she attended a three-day meeting.
The Cursillo Movement was founded in Mallorca, Spain by a group of laymen in 1944. It aims to train laypeople to be effective Christian leaders.
The late Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan established the Catholic movement in 1967 in Saigon, southern Vietnam.
The movement was banned after communist forces took control of the country in 1975. Some Vietnamese members from abroad returned to resume the movement in 2006.
Vietnam now has over 4,200 Cursillo members from 12 dioceses.
