Tết in Saigon, where the Church helps poor students
More than 10,000 students travelled north for the Lunar New Year holidays. However, many others could not afford the trip. Some stay at Emmanuel, a student residence set up by the Archdiocese four years ago for the most disadvantaged. Here free meals are available as are scholarships. "Since I came here, I have been able to share happiness and sadness with others,” said a Buddhist student.
Ho Chi Minh City (AsiaNews) – Some 10,000 students in Ho Chi Minh City went home to northern Vietnam to see family over the Lunar New Year* break. However, not everyone could make the trek for lack of money. Traditionally, the city’s Catholic archdiocese has helped them.
"In 2012, (former Archbishop) Card Gioan Baotixia (Jean-Baptiste) Phạm Minh Mẫn suggested we boost our youth ministry, especially for migrants (sinh viên xa que),” said Sister Diem, a local nun.
“So that year, the Congregation of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary built the Emmanuel Residence for students. I run the facility for poor students, which currently hosts 101 Catholics and 22 non-Catholics.”
In the past three years, the Emmanuel Residence has helped 70 students complete their education, so that when they went home in the north they could find a good job.
Many students are so poor that they cannot afford anything. When this is the case, the congregation, thanks to donors, provides them with daily meals, as well as scholarships.
Hồng, 22, is one of the students who live at Emmanuel. "At the beginning,” he noted, “I felt constrained to live here. For a while, I stood up to the nuns. Now I recognise how they always helped us.”
“Here we are safe and we have the opportunity to participate in all the pastoral activities of the parish. Every day, we go to Mass, read the Bible and pray together. Once a month, we discuss a particular topic."
He is not alone in his appreciation. "Since I came here, I have been able to share happiness and sadness with others,” said a Buddhist student. “Everyone can contribute to the joy of shared activities. After years studying here, I am ready to run my own life. "
A few days ago, Mgr Joseph Nguyễn Chí Linh, chairman of the Episcopal Commission for the pastoral care of migrants, visited the Diocese of Ho Chi Minh City where he spent some time with the students at Emmanuel.
During his stay, the bishop encouraged the community to follow the chosen path, urging students to become involved in pastoral outreach, and preach the Gospel to society’s poorest members.
* In Vietnam, the Lunar New Year is called Tết.
.png)
07/02/2019 17:28
24/04/2024 19:56
19/02/2024 13:45
