In response the campaign motivating people to develop a new-style rural development in residential areas, the Catholic solidarity board in the districts has encouraged followers to actively make practical contributions by building charity houses, presenting scholarships to poor students and providing support to poor people, orphans and the elderly in the locality.

Mr. Phan Văn Mỹ’s family in Da Bac commune of Chau Duc district is one of over 80 poor households presented with charity houses by Vinh Chau parish. According to head of board for social fraternity under Vinh Chau parish Đặng Văn Ước, upon understanding of his disadvantaged circumstances, the board has contributed 60 million VND for building a new house for his family, as well as give a scholarship worth three million VND for his daughter who is studying at a university.

In addition, seven years ago, Vinh Chau parish given support from donors and local Catholics, built a charity center in Binh Gia commune for looking after disadvantaged people. The center is currently caring for 19 lonely elderly and people with disabilities.

For the past seven years, Thi An Love Center operated by Phuoc Binh parish in Long Dien district has taken care, nurtured, educated hundreds of children with disabilities, abandoned orphans across the country. The center currently is raising 21 children aged from 0 to 16. According to deputy director of the centre Vũ Thanh Hoan, the center built on area of more than 300m2 with two stories has provided vocational skills for the children and helped them find a job when leaving the center.

According to Chairman of the provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee Bùi Thanh Nghĩa, Catholics in Ba Ria – Vung Tau province contributed over VND 29 billion to social, charitable activities in 2017.

PH (baobariavungtau.com.vn)