Vietnamese Catholics Trade Christmas Lights For Flood Aid

(UCA News) — For Francis Xavier Phan Van Linh, a mechanic in Vinh Thien Parish in Hue, the true light of Christmas this year isn’t found in a grand decoration, but in his family’s savings jar.

Despite being personally hit by recent devastating floods, losing four pigs and 20 chickens from his small livestock business, his six-member family is committed to an Advent of profound sacrifice.

They are pooling their savings — rice, daily spending money, clothes, and shoes — to aid others struggling in the natural disaster-hit area.

“We feel this Advent season is truly meaningful because there is real Christmas joy in our hearts by sharing with those who are lonely and destitute after the floods,” said Linh, who has even invited his non-Catholic friends to join his charitable outreach.

Their story of sacrifice is being mirrored across central Vietnam, where parishes are dramatically scaling back lavish Christmas celebrations, channeling their decoration budgets directly into flood relief.

They are choosing charity and solidarity over external pomp in response to a crippling humanitarian crisis.

Simplicity amidst catastrophe

Historic flooding, caused by three consecutive tropical storms and record rainfall in October and November, inflicted estimated economic losses of 29.32 trillion dong (US$1.11 billion).

The calamity left 163 people dead, more than 170 others injured, damaged or destroyed nearly 70,000 houses, 290,000 hectares of crops and farmland, and swept away hundreds of thousands of livestock and poultry. Infrastructure was also heavily impacted, with landslides blocking hundreds of road sections.

In response, parishes are deliberately embracing a simple, austere Christmas.

Jacob Dang Phuoc Thanh, head of the Thanh Binh Parish Council, noted the stark change in their plans.

“Last year’s Christmas celebrations cost 45 million dong [US$1,700]. This year, we are only building one small Nativity scene inside the church and reusing last year’s lights and flags outside, all costing 5 million dong,” he told UCA News.

Thanh Binh parish, with 550 parishioners, has called for a community-wide effort to generate aid. Local families are asked to save one kilogram of rice and at least 50,000 dong (US$2) each per week throughout Advent.

The savings will be used to provide rice and money to 30 non-Catholic families living on boats on the Bo River, all of whom lost their livelihood when their fish cages were swept away.

“A true Christmas celebration is not about the external noise and splendid decorations,” Thanh said. “We must quiet ourselves, awaken our inner spirit, and welcome Christ into our hearts, so we can bring the joy of Christmas to everyone.”

Sharing poverty of the crèche

Other parishes are similarly refocusing their resources.

In Kim Long parish, Gerard Le Phuoc Sy explained that they are using funds normally allocated for decorations and Christmas parties, along with an appeal to benefactors, to raise 300 million dong to repair 10 homes damaged by the disasters.

Father Peter Huynh Thanh Nhat, pastor of Vinh Loc Parish, has also simplified his church’s celebration, urging parishioners to save money to purchase fishing gear for 26 boat-dwelling families on the Truoi River who lost their nets.

“Jesus humbly came into the world in a poor stable,” Nhat reflected. “We should, therefore, live in humility and love, in solidarity and sharing with our suffering brothers and sisters.”

This sentiment was echoed by Father Paul Ho Thanh Gia, pastor of Ke Van parish in Quang Tri, who urged local people to buy blankets, rice, and battery-powered lamps as Christmas gifts for the homeless and for families returning to the Church.

He said the meaning of Christmas this year is “You are leaven, salt, and light in today’s world.”

Father Anthony Nguyen Thanh Tinh, parish priest of Ha Loi in Ha Tinh diocese, told local Catholics that this year “we will not decorate for Christmas, and we will dedicate that money to help the flood victims. Everyone should contribute what they can, and remember to pray for them often.”

Many people expressed their agreement, calling it a meaningful act during a time when many areas are deeply submerged and in need of relief. They said that no light is as beautiful as the heart turning toward our compatriots.

The movement has received high-level support from six dioceses around the country.

Archbishop Joseph Vu Van Thien of Hanoi and Bishop Joseph Tran Van Toan of Long Xuyen have called on Catholics to support the effort, stressing that charity must go beyond immediate relief to help the poor change their circumstances.

Toan encouraged a simple and economical but dignified Christmas, summarizing the essence of the season’s shift.

“This simplicity will help us return to the poor stable of yesteryear, where the Word came to dwell among us. The savings from decorating and organizing the feast, we will use to support our brothers and sisters who suffered losses due to the floods,” he said.

For many Catholics, the decision to prioritize aid is a meaningful act, realizing that no light is more beautiful than a heart turned towards those in need.