» 01/04/2010 11:26 VIETNAM Vietnamese Church: migrants are source of development not social problem by JB. Vu More young people leaving rural areas for large urban centers in search of work. The Church promotes programs to meet the “ spiritual needs” and promote "sharing of experiences". The meetings also involve non-Catholics.
Xuan Loc (AsiaNews) – Drug addiction, social discrimination, high rate of abortions and children forced to grow up in unhealthy environments. Internal migrants in Vietnam are a valuable resource for the national economy. However, public opinion in the country considers them a source of social problems and youth unemployment. To facilitate integration, the Catholic Church of Vietnam has initiated programs that responds to the "great question of spirituality in life” and the need for "moments together to share experiences".
The migrants have left rural areas seeking employment in urban centers. They are mainly concentrated in industrial zones in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, in the province of Binh Duong, Bien Hoa in Dong Nai province. According to a recent survey carried out by the General Office of Statistics, each year more than 1.5 million people move from rural to urban centers. Of these, more than 800 thousand remain within the province of origin, a further 631 thousand move to other provinces. More than 90% send their earnings to their family.
Brother Phi, of the Congregation of Christian Brothers of St. John Baptist de la Salle, has launched a series of meetings for students and young workers in the diocese of Xuan Loc "This is the first time that we have organized gatherings for immigrants in the Industrial Bein Hoa area - explains the religious - and it surprised us to see the participation of about 500 people. They are not seeking a solution to their material problems, but they do show a great demand for spirituality in their lives. The meeting was also attended by non-Catholics".
A student from the group tells AsiaNews he wants "more time to read the Bible and moments of common prayer." "We need - he added - a spiritual life and to profess our faith in God." A second young man reports that discrimination is still on the agenda. Dung, a native of the diocese of Than Hoa, states that migrants "are looking for a job. I do not steal, do not ask for charity, but many people look at me with hostility. "
Since 1987 the diocese of Xuan Loc is one of the towns most affected by the phenomenon of internal migration. To respond to the pastoral care, it promotes charitable initiatives to support the poor, the Catholics have taken a special missionary work. From August to December 2009 Father Nguyen Van Uy, director of the local Caritas, has held five training sessions for 81 people between teachers and catechists who work in more than 200 parishes. In 2009 they celebrated 1114 baptisms.
