ASIA/VIETNAM - Franciscan Missionaries of Mary involved in intense pastoral activity at a centre inaugurated a year ago which includes a school for poor children

Song Doc (Agenzia Fides) – Opened just over a year ago, the House of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary at Song Doc, in the southern part of Vietnam, is already an important point of reference for the people of Ca Mau, mainly, (70%) migrants from the north transferred to new economic districts as part of government policy in the 1970s. To provide normal pastoral life for the Catholic majority - often lacking adequate structures- the Sisters worked for more than ten years in the district, until, in 2007, a decision was made to build new Pastoral Centre, consisting of the community house and a two floor school building. The work was soon completed thanks to local men and women who offered to help with transporting material and construction work. Already by the end of 2007 the first 40 pupils, mainly from poor families, started lessons at the new school and kindergarten, temporarily housed in the basement. On 28 June 2008 Assunta II Centre was official opened with a Eucharistic Celebration which brought together all the people of the district of Tran Van Thoi. Today the Centre is run by the parish priest of the province of Ca Mau and the apostolate of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary includes catechism classes, preparation for matrimony, preparation of Sunday Liturgy, visiting families of the parish, school for adults and reinsertion of migrants in pastoral life. (A.M.) (Agenzia Fides 2/7/2009)