For the past years Catholic followers in the province have actively joint social movements for supporting the disadvantaged and boosting social development in the province.

According to Chairman of Dong Nai provincial Committee for Religious Affairs Nguyễn Quốc Vũ, Xuan Loc Diocese currently operates 31 charitable establishments for taking care of children with disabilities and the elderly (17) and providing medical charities (14). Medical charity centers have provided heath examinations and medicines for thousands of poor patients and ethnic minorities free of charge or at reduced costs.

For the 2012-2018, clinics run by the Order of St. John of God in Dong Nai have conducted health checks and medical treatments for over 220 thousand patients and contributed 7.7 billion VND for supporting disadvantaged patients, as well as provided free accommodation and supporting meals at the minimal cost of five thousand VND per meal.

Thirty-six private kindergartens and 100 classes providing preschool education for children have also been operating amongst Catholic communities. These schools and classes have as well provided education free of charge or at reduced costs for children with disadvantaged circumstances. 

In addition, the Catholic community in Dong Nai has so far made contributions valued at approximately VND 150 billion for new-style rural development in the province and each deanery in Xuan Loc diocese has contributed an average of two billion VND per year for improving local transport systems.

In particular, Parishioner Nguyễn Văn Trị from Bui Chu parish in the province’s Trang Bom district has donated land for creating a village road of 200 meters long and 5 meters wide starting his house to the Bac Son commune center, as well as contributed construction materials valued at VND 250 million for building this concrete road.

PTT