Muong Khuong mission station is based in Vietnam's Muong Khuong, a mountainous small town of Lao Cai Province, bordering China. The area is considered a "no religion" zone by the communist government.
Most of the local people moved to the area from the 1980s onwards for job opportunities.
Local Catholics voluntarily started to gather for prayers at the house of a Catholic woman, four years ago. Priests from Lao Cai Parish, 50 kilometers away, visit for pastoral services.
Now some 100 Catholics publicly practice their faith in the town that has a population of 8,000 people. Many others do not dare admit their faith for fear that they will suffer problems from the government.
Government authorities regularly harass Catholics when they gather for prayer. They accuse them of illegally holding services, beat and detain them, take away their cameras and cellphones. However, local Catholics bravely attend weekend Masses.
(Photos and text by ucanews.com)
