On October 14, 2024, the annual meeting program of the Caritas Network Representative Board of Da Lat Diocese was held at the Da Lat Pastoral Center with the presence of the Vicar General and Caritas Fathers in charge from the Da Lat, Bao Loc, Da Tong, Duc Trong, Di Linh dioceses, and the Caritas Representative Board of parishes in the Da Lat diocese.  This is an important opportunity to look back at the achievements achieved in the past year, and at the same time guide future charitable activities in the spirit of unity and solidarity.

Build an organized and unified Caritas network

At the meeting, one of the important issues discussed was how to build a widespread, organized, and effective Caritas network. Instead of individual charity activities, BXH and Caritas boards from parishes need to coordinate closely with each other to create a strong and synchronized system. The goal is to build an "extended arm" of charity, connecting parish communities to jointly carry out the mission of loving and serving the poor and vulnerable in society.

The growth of the Caritas network over the past year

In the past year, the Caritas network of Da Lat Diocese has recorded significant growth in both scale and quality. Typically, Da Lat Parish has increased from 3 to 15 participating parishes, with a total number of members reaching 164. Don Duong Parish currently has 10 parishes that have joined, while the number of members in Bao Loc Parish has exceeded 1,500. This increase is a testament to the pervasive power of the spirit of charity, as more and more people and parishes respond to join the network.

Outstanding charitable activities

Caritas members have carried out many practical charitable activities, supporting the community from basic needs to long-term initiatives. Typically, this includes building and repairing charity houses, supporting coffins for the deceased, and providing health insurance for people who have had accidents or are in difficult circumstances. In addition, at Bao Loc Diocese, sorted trash bins were given to members after participating in training on environmental protection. Not only that, fundraising programs and encouraging the spirit of charity in parishes also play an important role in expanding Caritas' activities.

The meeting emphasized the important role of the Caritas Representative Board in organizing, coordinating, and developing charitable activities. Network activities cannot be highly effective without unity and close coordination among members. The Board of Representatives is constantly looking for appropriate ways to build the Caritas network in a step-by-step process, depending on the resources and situation of each parish.

Operational orientation for the next 5 years

In the program, the Fathers in charge also proposed 5 main themes for each year, to deepen and raise awareness of Catholic identity in the members' charitable works. This will be the guideline for future network activities:

  • Year 2025: Communion in the Charity mission of Caritas Da Lat.
  • 2026: Live in solidarity with the poor and vulnerable.
  • 2027: Dialogue and collaboration in the mission of Charity.
  • Year 2028: Living with Charity and Justice.
  • 2029: Aiming for comprehensive development for the poor and disadvantaged

Difficulties and prospects

Although currently, building and linking within the Caritas network still faces many difficulties, but with a deep awareness of the importance of a unified organization, Caritas Da Lat continues to strive towards diffusion and unity. Faith in the power of an organized network will be the key to solving challenges, expanding the scale of activities, and attracting more members and parishes to participate.

As Father Vincent Pham Quoc Cuong, Administrator of Duc Trong District, shared: "Charity does not require money to do, but charity first needs initiatives, it is initiatives that help the work develop well."