Joachim Pham

 On their wish list: an expanded role for women in the church.

From strengthening diplomatic ties with the Vietnamese government to championing the poor, the environment and marginalized communities, the pope's influence deeply resonates with religious women across the country. The appointment of sisters in positions in the Vatican by Pope Francis and empowering sisters in the local church have also given Bangladeshi sisters hope.

Daughters of Mary of the Immaculate Conception Sr. Mary Vu Thi Ngoc and her team have rescued 48 women from domestic abuse by assisting with medical expenses, repairing homes and providing them with financial support to help them start small businesses.

Sisters from three congregations in central Vietnam distributed food, warm clothing, medicine, artificial limbs and financial aid to help people overcome hardships and experience divine love.

A group of nuns in Vietnam work to restore abandoned graves and foster respect for graves as the final resting place of the deceased.

"We cannot care for all the poor, so it's wonderful for the laity to make contributions," says Sr. Mary Hoang Yen, whose congregation is among those with an association that enables laypeople to join their mission.

To combat human trafficking in Vietnam, Catholic sisters support survivors and act to protect vulnerable people by establishing avenues to employment and sustainable livelihoods.

St. Paul de Chartres Sr. Josephine Huynh Thi Ly has been offering medical care and emotional support to people with HIV/AIDS at the state-run Central Hospital in Hue since 1997.

In disaster-prone provinces of central Vietnam, sisters help locals and farmers adjust to climate change through sustainable techniques and financial support, allowing them to adapt and stay on their land. 

"Vietnamese sisters are active in their ministries and charitable work and overloaded with their work so they have little sabbatical," one sister said.

In a 2019 Vietnam census, the rate of child marriage among the Hmong stood at 51.5%. Through education and other support, Catholic sisters aim to encourage people in ethnic communities to wait to marry at a legal age.

Photo essay - Catholic sisters in the provinces of Thua Thien Hue and Yen Bai in Vietnam offered traditional food and hosted festivities so those in need could celebrate the Lunar New Year, or Tet festival.

Sisters from four congregations in northern and central Vietnam teach Hmong Catholics to build nativities, sing carols, decorate churches and offer food to people in need to celebrate Christmas. 

Photo essay - Sisters in Vietnam's Hung Hoa Diocese help hundreds of Catholic women, including ethnic Hmong, perform traditional dances and offer flowers to Mother Mary during October, the month of the rosary.

At Tet Trung Thu, or Vietnam's Mid-Autumn Festival, sisters organized events for children, such as heart patients and orphans, who otherwise wouldn't have been able to join one of the country's biggest celebrations.

In Vietnam, secular institutes draw women from all walks of life. Due to the lifestyle's flexibility, they feel they can both follow religious life and discreetly serve others in a more intimate capacity, many told GSR.

"We have given free medical checkups and medicines to all people regardless of their background as a way to share God's love with them," explains Sr. Agnes Duong Thi Phu of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Hue, Vietnam.

Photo essay - As vocations experience a decline in interest in Vietnam, events for the 60th World Day of Prayer for Vocations drew young people with recreation, cultural performances, religious habit shows, services and prayers.

Four Mary Queen of Peace sisters travel daily by motorbike to visit, console and aid thousands of ethnic villagers at Kon H'ring Parish in Vietnam's Dak Lak province, home to various ethnic groups.

Filles de Marie Immaculée Srs. Mary Do Thi Ha and Anne Nguyen Thi Nguyet, who work at the Kim Long Charity Clinic in Hue, Vietnam, talk to GSR about the clinic's model of healing people in need.