Social Apostolate

Despite these challenges, we are confident as our community leaders closely guide us amid such difficulties. Eventually, we continue praying to the Almighty there will be peace in our lands. We at APC continue to serve the communities of Upper Pulangi as we dream that the Pulangiyēn children can find hope in their studies.

Ho Chi Minh Ville (Agenzia Fides) - "To serve God through the poor, in whom Christ is present, and to be with them every day" is the desire of Peter Pham Minh Hung, a priest from the parish of Vuon Xoai, belonging to the archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh Ville, in South Vietnam.

Taking the leap of faith for service twice is a gift and a privilege. I am very happy that I am given this opportunity, and I thank God for my second life after surviving Covid. It feels good to be back with the Jesuits–after so many years–and their spirituality of a faith that does justice.

"In March 2022, the Russian military launched missile attacks on my city, forcing us to flee. I will never forget our terrible trip.

Among many other things, there I have learned the value of the collective: the certainty that in the work we do in the social sector, it will always be better to work in the plural than in the singular.

As a young person in our parish, although not aware, the late Fr. Xolile Keteyi SJ helped us through his homilies and catechesis -especially during our preparation classes for the sacrament of confirmation - to make sense of the injustices that were around us at that time.

I considered my engagement in social issues an essential component of my faith. I was and continue to be deeply convinced that our faith calls us to have a preferential option for the poor. This means to always seek to understand the world from the perspective of those who live in the margins, and to work actively for social and political change to transform oppressive structures. For me, my faith was a call to be radical.

At this point, my journey to not only understand but to become a co-laborer in the Jesuit social apostolate began. It was contextualized in the witness of the martyrs who intertwined pastoral work and academic rigor with social analysis and projection that responded to the realities of their place and time.

I was introduced to Ignatian spirituality about twenty years ago during my religious formation. Looking back, I believe that this prepared me for this special journey and mission.

Economically, the country was experiencing run-away hyper-inflation that set a new world record. There was shortage of basic goods in shops, and when they were available their prices simply prevented the majority poor from accessing them, especially given that many had been rendered jobless by the closure of several companies.