The only stop was in Taipei, a very clean and bright place to stay for a couple of hours. I also had the chance to call Danny 
on Skype. It worked well, pretty clear, and we were surprised. The Vietnam Airlines flight to Hanoi was uneventful, but the food was very good. Not bad: good food and a view that goes for about 200 miles.
When I arrived, I was met by Dinh and by Thuc. Dinh is, of course, of the Dinh and Vinh fame. Thuc is the driver for the diocese and we have become good friends. On the way to Phat Diem we picked up Vinh in the bustle of Hanoi. Actually, we stopped in the middle of a six-lane thoroughfare so he could get in. I love driving in Vietnam. Here are VInh and Dinh. Oh, and by the way, "nh" is pronounced as "ng."
May is the month of May for Catholics around the world, and no one celebrates it better than the Vietnamese. Most countries celebrate May 1, have small processions, mostly made up of children, and then crown a statue of Mary with flowers. In Vietnam, things are ramped up quite a bit. The first and last days of the month are huge celebrations, with the entire parish processing around the village, lots of danceing, the carrying of the statue of Mary, all ending in mass at the church.
on Skype. It worked well, pretty clear, and we were surprised. The Vietnam Airlines flight to Hanoi was uneventful, but the food was very good. Not bad: good food and a view that goes for about 200 miles.When I arrived, I was met by Dinh and by Thuc. Dinh is, of course, of the Dinh and Vinh fame. Thuc is the driver for the diocese and we have become good friends. On the way to Phat Diem we picked up Vinh in the bustle of Hanoi. Actually, we stopped in the middle of a six-lane thoroughfare so he could get in. I love driving in Vietnam. Here are VInh and Dinh. Oh, and by the way, "nh" is pronounced as "ng."
May is the month of May for Catholics around the world, and no one celebrates it better than the Vietnamese. Most countries celebrate May 1, have small processions, mostly made up of children, and then crown a statue of Mary with flowers. In Vietnam, things are ramped up quite a bit. The first and last days of the month are huge celebrations, with the entire parish processing around the village, lots of danceing, the carrying of the statue of Mary, all ending in mass at the church.
We stopped on the way at Muou Giap parish located in a small, poor village. Fr. Hien, on staff at the cathedral but spending two months helping at the parish, was to celebrate the big ending mass for Mary on Pentecost Sunday. I had a chance to take a quick break, brush my teeth, and then get to know everyone. Here are some pictures and videos of the procession. Oh, and while I was taking pictures, the procession started and one of the elders of the parish came to me, took my hand, and had me process with the men of the parish. It was a moment I will never forget.
