Thousands of people, including non-Catholics, gathered at Lang Son Cathedral on Christmas Eve, turning the celebration into a moment of encounter and hope.
On the evening of Dec. 24, 2025, winter cold enveloped Lang Son City, Lang Son province, Vietnam, near China’s border, as crowds gathered at churches to celebrate Christmas.
According to the Vietnamese Bishops’ Conference, Lang Son Cathedral and the Bishop’s Residence became a gathering place, drawing worshippers and visitors who came to visit, share joy, and welcome God becoming human.
Christmas lights, Nativity scenes, and a large tree illuminated the cathedral grounds, while crowded streets and walkways remained orderly and peaceful throughout the long evening.
The orderly crowd reflected the joy of “Đêm thánh vô cùng,” translated as “the most holy night,” recalling the belief that God comes to dwell among humanity.
The program began at 8:30 p.m. with a carol festival, as parish choirs sang hymns recounting God’s love and preparing hearts for the Christmas celebration.
At 9 p.m., a Christmas dramatization traced salvation history toward the mystery of the Word made flesh, presenting Christmas as more than a single feast day.
The celebration reached its high point with a Christmas Mass at 10:15 p.m., presided over by Bishop Joseph Chau Ngoc Tri of Lang Son–Cao Bang.
Alongside many Catholics, numerous non-Catholic residents attended, a presence described as a sign of encounter and solidarity among people sharing hopes for peace together.
In his homily, the bishop echoed the Vietnamese Bishops’ Conference call, “Mỗi Kitô hữu là một môn đệ thừa sai,” or “Every Christian is a missionary disciple.”
Before the Mass ended, the bishop imparted a solemn blessing during the Jubilee Year of Hope and extended peace-filled Christmas greetings without distinction of belief.
