Over the past years, the patriotic emulation campaign among Catholics in Khanh Hoa has expanded and achieved satisfactory practical results contributing to the local socio-economic development...
Over the past years, the patriotic emulation campaign among Catholics in Khanh Hoa has expanded and achieved satisfactory practical results contributing to the local socio-economic development.
Promoting economic well-being
Over the past years, many good deeds among Catholics in the province have been performed. The campaign "All people unite to build new rural areas and civilized towns, assuring good citizenship and good religion" has been widely implemented by Catholics, bringing practical effects, helping to improve parishioners’ life. Particularly, priests have always urged parishioners to unite and give mutual support spiritually and materially to boost production, promote economic well-being and reduce poverty, contributing to the construction of new countryside and civilized towns.
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Outstanding individuals in production efficiency include Trinh Dinh Khanh (Van Xuan Parish, Van Hung Commune, Van Ninh District). His family used to be poor. Thanks to the conversion of crops, expansion of annual crop areas and animal husbandry, his family's earning has much improved with a profit of more than VND500 million/ year, creating jobs for 11 locals.
Phan Dinh Thanh parishioner, Dat Set Parish (Dien Khanh District) has more than 10 hectares of acacia covering bare hills and 6 hectares of sugar canes, earning nearly VND500 million per year. In addition, many parishioners have had initiatives in technical improvement in business. A good example is Luu Quang Truong in Vinh Trang Parish (Cam Lam District) with his improved peanut oil mill, bringing high business efficiency.
The campaign to build new countryside and civilized towns has also been actively responded by parishes and parishioners. Many households in the parishes of Ba Lang (Nha Trang City), Hoa Yen (Cam Lam District), etc have donated hundreds of square meters of land worth billions of dong to the widening of roads and construction of public works.
Charitable activities expanded
Charitable activities have been actively joined by parishes and parishioners. Nha Trang Diocese has built Mau Tam Clinic (in Vinh Trung Commune, Nha Trang City) to give medical examination and treatment to locals, especially the poor and disadvantaged, serving more than 7,000 arrivals so far. In addition, the diocese has provided food for hundreds of poor and disabled people, each family receiving 10kg of rice/ month; granted scholarships to 85 children of families infected with HIV/ AIDS; given housing grants to 3 families (Cam Tan Commune, Cam Lam District); and raised subscription to fairs for the poor: VND20,000/ bike, VND200,000/ motorbike, VND30,000/ television and so on.
Most religious communities in the province have promoted charitable activities. Good examples include Nha Trang Congregation of the Holy Cross Lovers with 3 facilities to take care of nearly 250 orphan, vulnerable and handicapped children. The Society of St Vincent de Paul has organized a charity kitchen to help the poor. Congregation of the Mother of the Redeemer has organized many classes for hundreds of children and provided scholarships for hundreds of students. Its Sao Mai charity establishment has devoted to the care of children with disabilities and provided help for HIV/ AIDS infected women. In addition, Phu Nhon Parish (Cam Ranh City) has built Dai An charity house to take care of 40 orphan and homeless children. Dat Set Parish has helped repair houses of poor parishioners. Most parishes have developed study promotion funds to help students in need.
The patriotic emulation campaign has been widely implemented by the Catholics, achieving satisfactory achievements. Catholics have always obliged by civic obligations, preserved and promoted national solidarity and harmony. Besides, various volunteer programs have been held, contributing to promoting benevolence and generosity as good religion and good citizenship. In the coming time, the patriotic emulation campaign of Catholics will continue to be expanded, further contributing to the homeland development, according to Tran Van Gia, Vice-Chairman of Khanh Hoa Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics.
Van Giang
Translated by N.T
