by Tom Gallagher
A Vietnamese priest created a giant dumpling to mark Dragon Boat festival and to attract Catholics back to Church. Presumably, non-practicing Catholics enjoy a free meal just as much as everyone else. At least this priest is at least trying to generate interest in his parish, which is commendable.
According to Union of Catholic Asian News, an independent Catholic news source in Asia:
Father Pierre-Marie Minh Son Pham, 46, shared the U-shaped rice dumpling that is more than 30 meters long with indigenous Atayal Catholics, hoping it would attract them back to St. Joseph’s Church in Nan’ao in Ilan County.
The parish priest arrived in Nan’ao three years ago, when there were few Catholics attending Church services.
He decided to make the dumpling, Vietnamese style, and share it out at a prayer gathering two days before the Chinese festival.
