Tien Giang (VNA) – The southern province of Tien Giang is currently home to over 52,000 Catholic followers, who have actively contributed to local development and the great national unity bloc.

The provincial Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics said it has encouraged locals to follow the guidance of the Catholic Church and the Vietnam Episcopal Council and to promote economic activities.

Followers have actively helped with education, health care, new-style rural area building and poverty elimination, thus demonstrating Catholics’ role in national development.

Over the past five years, Catholic followers in Tien Giang have donated over 29 billion VND (1.24 million USD) to humanitarian activities, including support for disadvantaged students and low-income families, public health care, and transport infrastructure building.

The committee has also encouraged effective movements and economic models of Catholics, it said, taking the Quang Minh Cooperative in My Tho city as an example. 

Director of this cooperative Cao Dung Khanh said it is employing 3,800 workers, most of whom are Catholic followers.

Meanwhile, the nuns of the Order of Saint Paul in My Tho have helped to step up education and charity work. Do Thi Van Nga, head of the order, said they have raised more than 3 billion VND (128,700 USD) for charity and education promotion over the last seven years.

The Tien Giang Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics said in the time ahead, local followers will make further contributions to national building and defence. They will also play greater roles in social work for the sake of wealthy people and a strong, democratic, equitable and civilised nation.-VNA
VNA