5 Volume 33 No. 2 | Winter 2023 Society Matters While the fatality rate in Saigon was initially very high, once it began to decrease the fatality rate in the nearby provinces began to escalate. “Hospitals were overcrowded, many field hospitals were built and many volunteers helped to stop the pandemic.” The SVD was seeing the impact of the pandemic first-hand in its ministries. “Prior to the pandemic, our SVD confreres in vows often taught catechism at local parishes, helped the migrants in the city, and visited and encouraged patients in hospitals,” Fr Tran said. “However, due to the pandemic, we needed to adjust our ministerial plans accordingly.” In response to the needs of the people, the SVD established a new program entitled ‘You give them something to eat’ (Luke 9:13). “Therefore, on Saturdays and Sundays, we began distributing food and daily necessities for the needy,” he said. The program included cooking and preparing meals for the poor and the homeless. It also saw the distribution of gift bags for the poor, each containing 10kg of rice, a bottle of fish sauce, a bottle of cooking oil and a box of instant noodles. “We could not ignore the sufferings of those in need,” Fr Train said. “Therefore, we changed our pastoral approach to find ways to reach out to the poor, the less fortunate, giving them comfort and helping them with food. “We chose to help the poor people in Saigon, many of whom were migrants and were stranded in a city not their own. “We were fortunate to receive financial support from the Province of Australia and our benefactors. For that we are grateful. “On behalf of the poor, we would like to once again thank you for your support over the last years. Please be assured of our prayers.”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTQ0MTI=