Ban Me Thuot hosts VII National Catechetical Congress

The VII National Catechetical Congress officially opened on August 3, 2026, in the Ban Me Thuot Diocese. Under the theme ‘Catechesis Serves the Mission of Proclaiming the Gospel,’ the event aims to review current catechetical practices and establish new directions for the mission within the Vietnamese Catholic Church.

The congress brought together 224 delegates representing 25 of the 27 dioceses in Vietnam. Participants included three bishops, 99 priests, 9 seminarians, 45 nuns, and 69 laypeople. Notable attendees included Bishop Ioan Do Van Ngan, Bishop Giuse Nguyen Duc Cuong, and the host, Bishop Ioan Baotixita Nguyen Huy Bac.

Reflections on the Church's structure emphasize that the visible mechanism—including hierarchy, laws, and specific roles—is essential for the community of faith. These structures serve vital functions, such as the transmission of information and the proclamation of the Gospel through authorized leaders.