Cardinal Filoni celebrates the 50th anniversary of the diocese of Xuan Loc, "may families and parishes become God’s families"

Xuan Loc – “Today I have the joy of celebrating with you the 50th anniversary of the creation of the diocese of Xuan Loc, which took place on October 14, 1965, by decision of the Blessed Pope Paul VI, who at the same time erected the Diocese Phu Cuong, to which also goes my greetings and my best wishes”. This is what Card. Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples said on 24 January, during the Mass he presided in the Cathedral of the Diocese of Xuan Loc, almost at the end of his pastoral visit in Vietnam .
“I know that you, the faithful of Xuan Loc, have been preparing for this anniversary with a beautiful five-year program – the Cardinal recalled in his homily – which had ‘The Family’, at the center in reference to the Parish, to the mystery of the Church, to charity, to the proclamation of the Gospel, and in this year, to the mystery of the Eucharist”.
He had words of appreciation for the work carried out by the Bishops who succeeded at the head of the diocese, for the priests, men and women religious and lay people, encouraging them with words often repeated by Pope Francis: “Courage! Go ahead!”.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council and the missionary decree “Ad Gentes,” with which the Conciliar Fathers asked that evangelization passes completely under the total competence of the local Churches, therefore we can say that “Xuan Loc is the result of the Council, and as local Church, in recent years, it has taken on the task of proclaiming the Gospel and making you the true family of God” highlighted Card. Filoni, citing the current pastoral theme:”To renew our faith so that our families and our parishes become God’s families”.
Referring to the Bible readings during Mass, Cardinal. Filoni recalled what the Prophet Isaiah says about the mission of Jesus: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free”. He stressed: “Is there a mission more beautiful, more noble, bigger than this? This is your mission today! Not another, just this”! Then he recalled the words of St. Paul:” Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel” and stressed:” But where? When? And the answer is: everywhere and always”!
In Luke finally Jesus himself, in the synagogue of Nazareth, explains his mission: he was “consecrated to announce a message and a year of grace to the poor”. The Cardinal concluded: “Dear brothers and sisters of Da Nang; dear brothers and sisters of Vietnam; I ask you to make yours this same mission, and with the same enthusiasm of the Apostles and the Missionaries that have brought you the faith, take it forward. How many people are waiting to know here and today, Christ. Good Apostolate”!
Link correlati :The full text of the Cardinal’s homily, in Italian
The full text of the Cardinal’s homily, in English
The full text of the Cardinal’s homily, in French