Indigenous congregation in Vietnam marks 70th anniversary

Dec 04, 2017

HANOI: A congregation for ethnic women in Vietnam’s central highlands has marked 70 years of bringing Christian values to indigenous groups and helping the poor live with dignity.

The Daughters of Miraculous Medal Congregation, Vietnam’s only religious order designed for ethnic minority women, celebrated its 70th anniversary on Nov 27.

French Bishop Jean Sion Kham of Kon Tum Diocese founded the congregation in 1947.

Bishop Aloisius Nguyen Hung Vi of Kontum and 70 priests concelebrated a special Mass at Kon Tum Cathedral. More than 2,000 people attended the event.

“The congregation is a clear sign of love God gives ethnic minority women to bring the Good News to their ethnic groups in the diocese,” Sister Imelda Y Biut, superior of the order, said.

She said ethnic women do evangelization work effectively among ethnic groups because they understand the languages, cultures, traditions and customs.

The ethnic Rongao nun said indigenous women play an important role in deciding major issues in families and villages.

“Ya [a Bana ethnic word meaning sister] teach ethnic women morality, catechism and ways of educating children to be good Catholics,” she said.

The congregation’s 153 sisters from eight ethnic groups work in 32 communities in the two provinces of Kon Tum and Gia Lai.

They look after and offer accommodation, food, health care and education to 800 orphans and disabled children at six centers.

They also help preserve ethnic groups' cultures and traditions that are being eaten away by modern society.

Kon Tum Diocese has 323,000 Catholics, two thirds of which are from ethnic minority groups, served by 160 priests.--Ucanews.Com