by JB. VU

Especially in these days of festivities for the Tet, groups of young people are bringing material support and spiritual comfort to the poor in the hospitals and the countryside.

Ho Chi Minh City (AsiaNews)- "Mobile warming centres" to bring support to the poorest and most remote regions, and "ve chai groups", which are looking for material in the garbage that they can resell to raise funds.  As one young man recounts to AsiaNews, these are some of the initiatives that the volunteers of the archdiocese of Saigon are moving forward to bring support to the poor and those who are sick with AIDS.  "We are", he explains, "small group of volunteers who have gone to the poor and  homeless people to be present and share something with them in the days of lunar new year". "Also", he continues, "we are also trying to combine charitable, social and pastoral activities".

His is not the only experience. Hue volunteers with a group that works in the hospitals.  She explains, "We go to the hospitals to help the patients and elderly who lack care and attention. Some priests and parishioners have accompanied, to give gifts for the poor who are discriminated against in society. After visiting the people, the priests always say 'God grant you peace'. Working with the group, I find serenity and support in my journey".

An has a degree in chemistry, and belongs to a group of volunteer social workers. She says, “I went to Loc Quang parish, a parish located in the rural highlands in Viet Nam. The first time we visited the parish, we learned about the parishioners’ needs. They are very poor in material things, and also lack spirituality in their lives. Father Hung, who works in the parish together with Brother Quang, says that they need our participation to help the people here”.

“So far”, she explains, “we are working on a small community development project. We have collected some money to help the poor, because they have no food to eat”. “Our group”, she concludes, “has five volunteers members. It is God who helps us”.

There are many groups of volunteers, social workers, teachers, doctors, priests, religious, and sisters in the diocese who are working to bring support to the people, and in particular to the children in difficult situations.

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