Selfless heroes ease pain of oppression

The Vietnam bishops’ Liturgy Commission recently provided guidance to priests, religious and volunteers who wish to serve Covid-19 patients, especially to administer the sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick.

Religious volunteers work at a field hospital for Covid-19 patients in Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo courtesy of tgpsaigon.net)

Commission chairman Bishop Emmanuel Nguyen Hong Son called on Catholics to help hospital patients prepare for the sacraments and administer them when priests are not allowed to visit. They can also conduct funeral rites when necessary.

Vietnam earned global praise for successfully tackling Covid-19 last year but has struggled against the more lethal Delta variant in recent months. Vietnam has recorded about 474,000 infections and some 11,868 deaths from the pandemic.

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