Australia's Catholic Mission is backing a centre established in one of Vietnam's poorest dioceses to look after unwanted babies most of whom would otherwise have been aborted.
Sr Mary Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai is in charge of the Charitable Home Centre in one of the poorest dioceses in Vietnam, a Catholic Mission media statement says.
After working with the poor for nearly 40 years and having come from a poor background herself, Sr Mary understands the needs of the people better than most.
The children in the Charitable Home Centre including one month old twins - Mary and Joseph - are usually babies that would have been aborted due to the fact that they are unwanted pregnancies. Their 15 year old mother wanted to abort the babies as she felt she had no other option and went to the nuns for help. They immediately took her in and her babies are healthy. The mother has since returned to her studies.
The sisters currently help 30 abandoned babies and children with disabilities but hope to grow the centre to accommodate 200 children.
Currently there are six sisters, 10 volunteers and six pregnant women who also help as carers for the children. Even the older children act as carers.
The sisters not only look after the children in the Charitable Home Centre, they also provide pastoral care. They cook daily meals and visit the local hospitals. In Vietnam, unlike in Australia, hospitals do not provide food for patients. This task is usually dependent on families.
Catholic Mission Australia has supported the Charitable Home Centre, which costs over $A4,600 to operate each month, since 2006.
Sr Mary Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai is in charge of the Charitable Home Centre in one of the poorest dioceses in Vietnam, a Catholic Mission media statement says.
After working with the poor for nearly 40 years and having come from a poor background herself, Sr Mary understands the needs of the people better than most.
The children in the Charitable Home Centre including one month old twins - Mary and Joseph - are usually babies that would have been aborted due to the fact that they are unwanted pregnancies. Their 15 year old mother wanted to abort the babies as she felt she had no other option and went to the nuns for help. They immediately took her in and her babies are healthy. The mother has since returned to her studies.
The sisters currently help 30 abandoned babies and children with disabilities but hope to grow the centre to accommodate 200 children.
Currently there are six sisters, 10 volunteers and six pregnant women who also help as carers for the children. Even the older children act as carers.
The sisters not only look after the children in the Charitable Home Centre, they also provide pastoral care. They cook daily meals and visit the local hospitals. In Vietnam, unlike in Australia, hospitals do not provide food for patients. This task is usually dependent on families.
Catholic Mission Australia has supported the Charitable Home Centre, which costs over $A4,600 to operate each month, since 2006.