Support Our Sisters in Vietnam

Jun 23
3 min read

VIETNAM

United in a Mission: Transforming Lives in Vietnam

In the remote villages of northern Vietnam, marginalized ethnic minorities preserve rich cultural traditions while facing deep poverty that most of the world will never see. Children suffer from malnutrition, subsisting only on water, rice, and pickled bamboo. To survive, parents must work long hours in rice paddies, often leaving their young children home alone.

The Lovers of the Holy Cross and the Association of Mary, Mother of Life, two orders of Vietnamese sisters united in common mission, were born from these very communities. They understand the language, customs, and needs of the people they serve. But they discovered something unexpected: the communities transformed them as much as they served the communities.

Their Mission of Mercy

These Vietnamese sisters offer nutritious meals and Catechism classes for children, support for the elderly, as well as home repairs and road construction in isolated villages. Their unique approach involves the communities actively participating as teachers, with families contributing labor and elders sharing wisdom. Parents travel long distances for their children’s education. The sisters emphasize that in their work, they gain as much from the community as they give.

An Invitation to Abundance

Catholic World Mission’s ability to support the water filtration and convent construction projects is contingent on fully funding the feeding program for children and the elderly. Therefore, every initial donation we receive will be directed to the feeding program (Their Essential Ministry) until it is fully funded. Once this goal is met, all funds raised will go towards water filtration (Empower Their Lasting Impact) and convent construction (Transform Their Capacity to Serve).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpKKwQ_bcKg

The Lovers of the Holy Cross serve 190 elders across three villages, as well as 950 children. Their work depends on caring friends like you!

A Promise of Transformation

As Isaiah promises:

"If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness" (58:10).

Notice: “your light rises”. This is the mystery at the heart of Christian mercy: the giver receives more than they give.

The sisters are crossing this bridge of mercy daily, transformed by what they find. The communities are ready to receive your gift and give you something far more valuable in return.

PROJECT UPDATES

From Hunger to Hope

June 2026

Catholic World Mission (CWM) brought meaningful transformation to a remote mountainous community by raising enough support to feed 950 children and 190 elderly men and women for an entire year. In a region where families survive on little more than rice, salt water, and bamboo pickles, this initiative addressed critical hunger and malnutrition at its root. With just $0.60 feeding a child and $1 feeding an adult per day, donors made a profound and tangible impact.

Beyond food assistance, the project responds holistically to the community’s needs. Children, often left alone while parents work long hours in rice fields, now receive care through village-based childcare programs led by dedicated sisters. They also benefit from educational preparation, language instruction, and weekly nutritious meals, ensuring they are better equipped for formal schooling. Elderly residents, who previously faced hardship and neglect, are provided with consistent meals that restore dignity and well-being.

CWM also invested in long-term improvements by installing water filtration systems, constructing cement floors for healthier living conditions, repairing homes, and building accessible roads. Together, these efforts not only alleviate immediate suffering but also create sustainable pathways toward improved health, education, and human development.