The Department of Charity and Social Ministry of the Philippines-Vietnamese diocese started its activity among the poorest families in the city of Bacoor near Manila. Also, the local volunteers are taught to organise the feeding of the children and the hygiene.

People in Bacoor already know about the Russian Orthodox Church and quite a few of them are interested to become its members, so in future a new community of ROC can be established there.

Last year, the Metropolitan of Manila and Hanoi Pavel blessed the foundation stone of the new church of St Thomas in the village of Kinabalan. Due to the pandemic, the construction was postponed. Now we are happy to announce the beginning of the works. With the help of the parishioners, the lot of land has been levelled, and sand has been delivered to cover the place under the foundation.

On December 23, at the parish in honor of the Kazan icon of the Mother of God in Vung Tau, a meeting with children was organized. The rector of the parish priest Eugene Zucalo talked about the upcoming feast of the Nativity of Christ. The parishioners organized a cultural program: children made Christmas toys, baked gingerbread and learned a Christmas carol.

On December 17, a New Year’s reception was held at the residence of the Consul General of Russia in Ho Chi Minh City A.V. Popov, which was attended by Russians and Vietnamese friends of Russia. Among the invited were the managers of the JV “Vietsovpetro”, rector of the parish of the Kazan icon of the Mother of God priest Evgeniy Tsukalo, representatives of “Zarubezhneft” Corp. and other leaders and representatives of the Russian associations, Vietnamese students of Ho Chi Minh city pedagogical University and Institute of social Sciences and Humanities.