The 17th Annual “A Call to Vietnam” Benefit Dinner

6:30 p.m. – Registration

7:00-9:30 p.m. – Dinner and program $35.00/person

Contact Sister Agnes Ly Thi Le (206-725-7164) or Theresa Pham (206-551-0366) for more information and tickets.

Since 2001, Sisters Agnes Ly Thi Le and Kay Burton have directed the project A Call To Vietnam which ministers to marginalized people in Vietnam. The Sisters of the Holy Names work in collaboration with the Sisters of the Lovers of the Holy Cross in Vietnam. These Sisters provide education to poor families and services for disabled children and adults, pregnant teens, elderly people, and people called to religious life. About Last Year’s Benefit Dinner:

Generosity + Enthusiasm + Hard Work = Joy and Success

By Sister Linda Riggers,SNJM

The 16th Annual A Call to Vietnam benefit dinner was held at the Joyale Seafood Restaurant on South Jackson. Many returning guests called this year’s event the “best ever,” commenting that through the years, the efforts of an extraordinarily committed planning committee has paid off with smooth registration, a delightful environment and a spirit of welcome and hospitality. This started with the gracious attention each guest received at the door, from the Hospitality Committee, headed by Anna Nhung Nguyen and Theresa Pham. A delicious eight – course dinner, including specialties like Peking duck, walnut prawns and seafood tofu soup, satisfied the attendees’ palates, with the lovely items on the dessert table capping an excellent meal. Once more, Tony Bakery’s & Deli provided some delicious cakes, although these had to compete against beautifully presented custard and fruit pies from Thanh and Thanh Van Le fabulous glass cups, served with silver spoons, prepared by Theresa Ibsen, and Tram Weller’s elegant cranberry/orange oatmeal cookies with white chocolate presented on a one-of-a kind lovely serving platter. Enthusiasm was definitely the hallmark of the evening as Father Joseph Vu Hai Dang, SDD, led the spirited auction. Father Joseph also emceed much of the event, backed up by Paul Ngoc Nguyen. A song-writer and singer of Ffather Joseph . He entertained all with joyful music throughout the evening. The evening’s events were supported by a slide show prepared by Thanh Le and the AV work organized by Xuan Nguyen. The Sisters of the Holy Names opened the meal with a sung prayer of gratitude and were behind-the-scenes for many activities. A special treat for this evening was having a Sister / Lover of the Holy Cross attend in person. Sister My Dung Nguyen has benefitted from the A Call to Vietnam summer sessions of English language learning and is now getting an advanced degree in education from Heritage university in Toppenish Washington. With a masterful combination of skills for problem-solving, diplomacy and systemic organization, Chairperson Dung Nguyen again provided the coordination that made this annual event result in an awesome outpouring of generosity.