WHO WE ARE
Who We Are
The Good Leaves Protect The Worn-Out
Mental Illness and Physical Disabilities
Masses and Prayers for Benefactors
HONG AN CHARITY ASSOCIATION
HISTORY
The Hong An Charity Association, also known as “Hong-An”, was formed in late 2011. It was started by a small group of priests and religious Sisters residing in Vietnam and the United States with the help and guidance from friends and acquaintances. These priests and religious shared the ambition to relieve the suffering of Christ’s people, the poorest of the poor. Anxious to do good works, the Association adopted the slogan, “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”
TAX STATUS
The Hong an Association has its roots in the Kontum Mission and Friendship (KMF) under the guidance and encouragement of the President, Msgr. Joseph Hoang Minh Thang (Rome), who also serves on the Executive Board of KMF. The Hong An Charity Association is a non-profit organization. The Federal Tax ID number is #42-1757220. Be assured that your donation—whether large or small—is fully tax deductible.
PARTNERS IN VIETNAM
Since 2009 the following Sisters serve the poor in Vietnam:
From the North of Vietnam
- Sisters of Mary Queen of Bui-Chu
- Daughters of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Bui-Chu
- Dominican Sisters of Bac-Ninh
- Dominican Sisters of Thai-Binh
- Sisters of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Hung-Hoa
- Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres of Lang-Son
- Daughters of Our Lady of Unity of Bac-Ninh
- Association of Dominican Sisters of the Good News of Nghe-An
From the Central of Vietnam:
- Association of Sisters of the Witness to Faith of Lam Dong
- Sisters of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Hue
- Daughters of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal of Kontum
From the South of Vietnam:
- Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena of Xuan-Loc
- Sisters of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of My-Tho
Each group serves a different part of the needy population so that the Hong An Association reaches all in need; especially the elderly, lepers, the mentally ill and disabled persons living in remote areas.
The Hong An Association aspires to bring to meet the material needs of the poor, but as importantly, to provide them the spiritual gifts of consolation, encouragement, and care so they can better cope with the challenges of their unfortunate circumstances. The Sisters are selfless in their work with the poor. They provide not just the material necessities but also personal visits and encouragement.
This important work requires the collaboration of many different congregations spread over many geographical areas and all working by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Each Order often has many convents in various areas of the country, mainly in poor areas.
SUPPORT PROGRAMS
The Rice Program
The purpose of this program is to provide 10 kilograms of rice (at a cost of $5) for the poor whose disabilities prevent them from working, especially the elderly, lepers, the mentally ill, those born with defects, or suffering from paralysis. Some of these poor people struggle every day by begging and also by digging through garbage heaps to find edible scraps.
This program carefully screens recipients according to their need.
The Emergency Help Program
The purpose of this program is to help the poor according to immediate needs and circumstances. For instance, during the cold weather the Hong An Association provides warm blankets and clothing to those suffering from the cold. Financial support is also provided to families of young children based on needs such as medicine or food.
Note: All financial support sent by benefactors of the Hong An Association is sent to Vietnam four times a year (January, April, July, and October) so that it can be promptly used to serve the needs of the poor.
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
The Hong An Association and the Sisters in Vietnam assist regardless of religion or ethnicity. The devotion of the Hong An Association and the Sisters transcends any of those considerations. The Sisters choose to live in dire poverty like the people they serve. They look at everyone with eyes of love, lead by the passage:
“All are children of the Lord; they are brothers of mine.”
The Hong An Association hopes that all this work will help resolve current difficulties for the less fortunate and give encouragement and joy to them also.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
President: Monsignor Joseph Hoang Minh Thang
(Rome, Italy)
General Secretary: Mr. Pham Thanh
(Fountain Valley, CA)
Treasurer: Mr. Dao Van Duc
(West Covina, CA)
Hong An Association Director: Jennie Ngoc
(Houston, TX)
THE GOOD LEAVES PROTECT THE WORN-OUT
The Hong An Charity Association strives to meet the needs of the poor in remote areas of Vietnam. This work is accomplished through the partnership of the benefactors in the United States and Vietnam along with the tireless efforts of the religious Sisters in Vietnam who use the donations to serve these poor.
There are two programs set up for this purpose. The Hong An Rice program provides a 10 kg supply of rice each month to the poor elderly, the lepers, the mentally ill, and the disabled. These people have no way of making a living for themselves. The “Hearty Soup for the Children” provides a healthy meal of nourishing soup containing pork, rice, and vegetables each week to help meet the children’s nutritional needs.
While the Sisters cheerfully and lovingly tend to the physical needs of these poor people, they also help them with spiritual gifts of consolation and encouragement and prayer to strengthen them as they deal with their difficult circumstances.
Your help is needed to continue this good work. Thank you in advance for your prayers and your contributions.
LEPROSY PATIENTS
In the 19th century there were four diseases that were considered incurable: Leprosy, tuberculosis, cirrhosis, and cancer. Leprosy was ranked at the top because of the frightening effects from pain, disfigurement, and amputation. Many believed that victims of leprosy were somehow being punished for their sins. Villagers were afraid of this contagious disease and would chase away lepers to die alone. Thankfully, attitudes and beliefs have changed. Lepers are no longer chased out of villages but here is still some ignorance about this disease and some rejection of these victims. The solution is more humane – lepers live in their own communities away from the rest of the population.
Please know this situation is not ideal. Most of the lepers are unable to care for themselves due to the progression of the disease. There are many people, like the Sisters, who wish to make the sacrifice to care for the needs of the lepers. Funds are needed to carry on this mission of providing meals, medication, and other necessities to this population.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your donations.
TEARS OF THE ELDERLY
It is shameful and humiliating for underprivileged elders in Vietnam to spend the end of their time on earth in a struggle to find basic sustenance. Some of them live alone in shacks even though they have children or grandchildren. If their families help at all, they are often passed back and forth because their families don’t want the full responsibility of caring for their elderly relatives.
Instead of “living life to the fullest,” these poor old people are suffering self-pity and misery because of their declining health, chronic illness, and memory impairment.
When the Sisters come to visit, they feel such sorrow at the sight of an elder curled up in bed, cold and shivering. Upon seeing the Sister enter the room many of these poor people shed tears of joy. An old lady lamented, “Everyone has one life to live. Why is my life so miserable???”
The Hong An Association hopes that its efforts will not only solve the current difficulties for the less fortunate but will contribute some happiness and enjoyment of life to them through words of encouragement and motivation. With the help of the many Sisters serving in the remote areas in Vietnam, we at the Hong An Association earnestly invite our benefactors to join the “Hong An Rice Program.” The benefactors of the “Hong An Rice Program” will play a crucial part in helping the Sisters to give enough food and comfort to these poor elders.
MENTAL ILLNESS AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES
Many of the poor families we visit are challenged by mental or physical disabilities. The victims are dependent on others for all aspects of their personal care. Families facing these challenges also suffer rejection from people who ignorantly believe that these conditions are inherited by every generation. These attitudes cause heartbreak for families already burdened with caring for their disabled family members. These poverty-stricken families do not have access to proper care and treatment. Sometimes the families resort to methods like locking them in a room or tying them up for protection.
It would be a great help to each of these families to receive 10 kg of rice per month.
We are asking our benefactors for the kind donation of $5 per month to pay for rice for one of these poor families.
