By Our Own Correspondent

Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam, 21 February 2017 -- Although was established already in 1965, the Caritas Vietnam was 'born again' only in 2008. One of the sons of Don Bosco, former provincial economer of VIE province, Fr. Vincent Dong, SDB is until since then the first Caritas executive Director both at the national level as well in the Caritas Ho Chi Min (archdiocese) - sharing his working week between these two offices in the same city.

After a hard work of formation (workshops - seminars - field excursion), the Caritas Vietnam is established in all 26 dioceses of Vietnam (President of the Caritas Vietnam is the bishop of Bui Chu) and among the 240 parishes of HCM Archdioces almost 180 are proud of active Caritas group reaching out to the needed people.

At the moment there is 19 staff (majority religious sisters) in the national center of Caritas Vietnam working according clear strategic plan, divided in 10 sections of service to the most needy in their country: HIV-AIDS, migrant children, emergency, pro-life section, poor outreach, people with disabilities, human trafficking, formation, project office, social communication, and fundraising department. Fortunately the foreign aids to Caritas is now covering just 50% of the budget.

The Caritas Vietnam family can be reached on their website (http://www.caritasvietnam.org) in Vietnamese, but soon the English version is being prepared. Indeed the Caritas Asia is a vibrant network that brings 3 times a year many national directors together to coordinate and share their good practices. Our prayers for the young Caritas Vietnam!

We are proud and happy for the humble contribution of Don Bosco to the most important witness of the Church, through charity - for the poor and among the poor. Already in Valdocco in Don Bosco's time the only outreaching 'sodality' was the Society of St. Vincent wanted by our Founder for the faith education of his youth.

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