Vietnamese Catholics from Sacred Heart of Mary Church and mission congregations from Rogers and Siloam Springs celebrated the Vietnamese New Year Jan. 26 with firecrackers, a Dragon Dance, Mass, a luncheon, crafts and games.
“Tết, our New Year, is a holiday similar to your Thanksgiving,” Father Tuyen Do, associate pastor for Vietnamese ministry at Sacred Heart of Mary Church, said. “It is a time for families to get together, thank God and ask for blessings for the New Year.”
The holiday marks the first day of the Lunar New Year, similar to the Chinese New Year.
In Vietnam, where Father Do lived until he was 29, everyone would gather at the parental home on the first day of the new year. He celebrated with his 11 brothers and sisters, their spouses and children.
“After breakfast, each of us would bless our parents, and then, one by one, we would seek forgiveness for anyone we had wronged and reconcile with one another,” he said.
Cooking the giant feast, featuring holiday delicacies like pork and green beans wrapped in sticky rice, took nine or 10 hours.
While it is not always possible to gather with one’s whole family in the United States, Vietnamese families carry on the tradition through phone calls and occasional visits.
Sister Maria Hoa Nguyen, OP, superior of the Dominican sisters in Arkansas, was able to visit her family in San Diego for the first time in eight years.
“We are all safe together, far from the fires,” she said. “I am so happy to be with my family this new year.”
In 2015, Father Do immigrated to the United States via Canada to study for the priesthood at Sacred Heart Seminary in Milwaukee, Wis. While the Communists reopened seminaries, churches and schools in the 1980s, there was not enough seminary space to accommodate prospective priests.
He was grateful to have been sponsored by the Diocese of Little Rock to serve the Vietnamese community and share their rich faith and traditions.
“The actual Lunar New Year took place on Jan. 29,” Father Do said, “but we began our celebration on Sunday the 26th. We began with lighting firecrackers, not fireworks. The noise and smoke are believed to ward off bad luck and evil spirits. After that, a dancing dragon came out to entertain the people. In Asian culture the dragon is believed to be a holy animal, bringing luck and prosperity. People, especially non-Catholics, sometimes pay to have the dragon visit their homes. When they open a new business, they pay the dragon to visit and bring them luck.”
2025 is the Year of the Snake. Because animals lived on Earth before humans were created, they are believed to have special powers. The snake symbolizes wisdom.
“Although Catholics tend to associate the snake with Genesis, in Matthew 10:16, Jesus says, ‘Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves,’” Father Do said.
In his homily, Father Do strived to give the people a biblical passage that they could put on their family altar as a theme for the new year. He chose the parable of the lilies of the field found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.
“We must trust in God. When we look at the lilies of the field, we see that God takes care of us. We trust in his providence not only in this world but in eternity. If we offer ourselves and our families to God, he will bless us so we can be healthy, prosperous, and happy,” he said. “If we focus on working and on this world only we may have trouble.”
After Mass, the congregation ate traditional Vietnamese foods and enjoyed the entertainment. The celebrations continued with games and crafts for children and bingo and dancing for the adults. Children received red envelopes with “lucky money” so that they would grow and prosper physically and spiritually.
Most families following the Vietnamese tradition continue their celebration for two more days at home. The second day is dedicated to honoring ancestors by prayer and visiting their graves. The third day is dedicated to seeking God’s blessings for work, business and financial endeavors.
