Funeral Mass Brings Hope To Catholics In Remote Area -Vietnam
3/3/08
Catholics in a northern province hope the first funeral Mass in their remote town, after more than 40 years, is the start of improved pastoral care for the future. Although the temperature dropped below freezing on Feb. 15, Father Pierre Pham Thanh Binh, pastor of Sa Pa parish, drove his old car 70 kilometers, up mountainous roads, to get to Lai Chau town, 470 kilometers northwest of Ha Noi. He drove to Lai Chau province from his parish in Lao Cai province to celebrate Mass and administer the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick for 12 elderly Catholics. The service was held at Anna Nguyen Thi Bon’s house, in Sang Thang village, after which Father Binh returned to his parish.
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