In Vo Hot Parish

Yesterday, Friday, was a gathering of all the priests in the Diocese of Phat Diem to celebrate the end of the Year of Faith proclaimed by Pope Benedict. Vo Hot parish. The name means "peace" and it is among the poorest areas in the diocese. Each year it floods, some years as high as five feet. Attending were also 82 dance groups from the parishes who danced in unison before the mass.

The local band was huge and one of the best I have heard. Not easy to keep 65 players in tune.

Over 1,000 dancers, women and children, performed exactly the same dances at the same time. Quite a feat. A video is at the end of this post.

The colors of the costumes were striking in their brilliance.

The children learn the dances at an early age.

Grace was evident in all the gestures.

My hairy arms always bring about curiosity.

A student here for the last seven summers. I have seen him grow up. He is now a junior in high school.

Way too funny.

These are all Joseph Tien's catechism students.

Cuteness knows no boundaries.

The woman with the black hat just loved it when the bishop spoke. As you can see, the elderly are held in high esteem and always sit in the front, women on one side, men on the other.

Some of the altar boys after mass.

Yes, that's a goat. He was given to the bishop as a gift. This is the most humane way to secure him for the trip back to Phat Diem so he doesn't hurt himself. As soon as we got back he was untied. He is going to be for the next diocesan feast. Since the last goat he got was called Dinner, this one is going to be called Lunch.