Plans for an English-Vietnamese Catholic dictionary

A committee has been set up to compose an English-Vietnamese Dictionary of Catholic terms. Monsignor Peter Nguyen Van Tai, director of Radio Veritas in Philippines, has been appointed as the chairman of the committee. Such a dictionary will be a great help for Vietnamese Catholics in this Internet Age", said Monsignor Peter. "It's a challenge yet a rewarding endeavor." he said noting the importance of English usage in communication. Fr John Tran Cong Nghi director of the California-based VietCatholic News Agency, and a vice-chairman of the committee said that while a very limited number of Catholics in Vietnam could co-operate with Vietnamese diaspora in previous communication projects, "this is the first one that involves a large number of Catholic priests in Vietnam." "Without the Internet there would not be such a fantastic opportunity for Vietnamese diaspora to work closely with those living in Vietnam" he said. Encouraged by the late Cardinal Francois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, since 1996, hundreds Catholic priests, religious and lay people living overseas have been working together in VietCatholic News Agency to inform, inspire and support individuals and organizations in their daily lives and missions in Vietnam. The website carries translated texts of papal speeches, pronouncements and other Church documents. It also provides succinct news and comments on matters of Catholic interest. Through the site, the communication between the Church in Vietnam and the universal Church has been greatly improved. While Catholics around the world have been informed better about the daily lives, the missions, the sufferings, and the struggles of their brothers and sisters in Vietnam; Catholics in Vietnam have been enriched with numerous translated articles of various areas. Bishops in Vietnam have constantly stressed the importance of the Church's work in communications, particularly in thet Internet. This new initiative will help Catholics in Vietnam to use the Internet more effectively. For more information see: www.vietcatholic.net/News/default.htm JB An Dang