Vietnamese Catholic volunteer groups to help those suffering from the epidemic
by Nguyen Trung

Father Joseph Lê Quang Uy, a Redemptorist assists the group to help people who sell lottery tickets on the streets, abandoned people, disabled people and unhappy children, including those who living in difficult situations.


Ho Chi Minh City (AsiaNews) - In the days of "social distancing" in Vietnam, Father Joseph Lê Quang Uy, a Vietnamese Redemptorist priest, helped and supported the H ilng Ân group, the FIAT group and some other volunteer groups to organize charity lunches during the pandemic period for the poor and abandoned.

Numerous Catholic volunteers are assisting people who sell lottery tickets on the streets, abandoned people, disabled people and unhappy children, including those who live in difficult situations.

Ms. Nguyễn Thị Nở, volunteer of the Hồng Ân group of the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, belonging to the Redemptorists of Saigon, says: “Because of this epidemic we have seen many people facing difficulties, like many lottery ticket vendors on the street, street cleaners and street vendors. Everyone had to stay home. "

“All these marginalized people have had to stop working on the street. So their life is very difficult. They have no money to pay a rent. Even those who are far from their families and immigrants are in the same situation. So, we thought of a way to help these people with free meals. To overcome current difficulties, ”added Ms Nở.

Some members of the Hồng Ân group (Grace Group) also told AsiaNews about their experience: “We come here because we are in solidarity with people who face many difficulties. These days, they cannot work to earn money for themselves and their children. Thus, Father Joseph Uy supported and helped us organize charitable meals for the poor, the abandoned, the lottery ticket sellers and the elderly alone in the local communities. "

Father Joseph also told his experiences to the local media, “I think our help and sharing with the poor and abandoned are very natural in the conscience of Christians. Furthermore, our conscience is inspired by the Good News of Jesus. It gifts mercy to all of us. We have received Mercy from God. Therefore it is inevitable for us to respond with Mercy to the poor. This describes our solidarity in our communities. "