HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam (UCAN) -- An official of a highland diocese short on priests has asked Franciscans to assign more personnel there to run pastoral, educational and health-care initiatives for ethnic-minority groups.

Father Pierre Nguyen Van Dong, head of Kontum diocese's Committee for Charity and Social Action, was the main speaker at the Vietnamese Franciscans' annual retreat. This year's theme was Evangelization of Ethnic People in Kontum Diocese.

The diocese based in Kon Tum town, 1,200 kilometers southeast of Ha Noi, covers Gia Lai and Kon Tum provinces, home to many ethnic-minority groups: Banar, Brau, Gie Trieng, Jarai, K'hor, M'nong, Rade, R'mam and Se Dang.

It counts 244,000 Catholics -- including 140,000 ethnic minority people -- among the 1.4 million residents of its 25,000-square-kilometer area. Serving them are 65 priests and 352 Religious brothers and sisters.

Franciscans from throughout the country made their retreat either June 2-6 or June 9-13 at their study house in Thu Duc district, Ho Chi Minh City, 1,710 kilometers south of Ha Noi. They staggered the attendance so some of them would be able to keep up pastoral services in their respective places while others made their retreat.

Speaking with UCA News, Father Dong, 65, said he told the Franciscans that although some of their number already serve ethnic communities in his diocese, it "seriously lacks priests and we need more Franciscans to work with local ethnic groups."

Father Dong, who has been working with local ethnic groups for 36 years, noted many churches and chapels in his diocese still have no resident priest, and many ethnic-minority villages have not heard the Good News. Local Church workers help improve villagers' life through pastoral, educational, economic and health-care activities, as well as vocational training, he said.

The priest, who studied at a Franciscan-run minor seminary, said the order's spirit of poverty suits work with the ethnic-minority people, who live a simple and poor life. He expressed his appreciation for pastoral and social initiatives some Franciscans have already begun in the villages.

Father Francis Xavier Vu Phan Long, Franciscan provincial superior, told UCA News he welcomed Father Dong's appeal, which fits well with their option of living among the people. They want to evangelize ethnic-minority people by bearing witness in daily life and work, he added.

Father Long, 57, said that his congregation signed an agreement with Kontum diocesan leaders in January that calls for five Franciscans to reside and work in the Gia Lai districts of Chu Pah and Ia Grai. According to the superior, student Franciscans will work with local Catholics during the summer break every year.

In line with the agreement, five Franciscans are currently providing catechism classes, pastoral activities and health care for 4,100 Catholics, including 2,100 Se Dang and Jarai people, in the 1,300-square-kilometer area. Other projects include building houses for poor people, providing buffaloes for them to breed and teaching sewing skills.

"We plan to send more Franciscans to help our confreres who are overworked there," Father Long said.

One of the five Franciscans, Father Nicolas Vu Ngoc Hai, 55, has worked in the area since 2005. The mission pioneer told UCA News the Franciscans have been studying local languages and culture, and plan to translate the Bible, liturgical texts, prayers and hymns into these languages in the future.

Brother Peter Nguyen Dinh Phuc, 34, who serves as procurator of the Franciscan community in the diocese, told UCA News they plan to train catechists as well as teach catechism, and also provide basic education for children in remote villages. They also plan to establish a clinic, added Brother Phuc, who holds bachelor's degrees in English and medicine.

It is important for Franciscans to have a missionary zeal in serving local ethnic people, according to Brother Phuc, who just finished a three-year theology program. He said at the retreat, "I choose to be a Religious (brother), not a priest, so I can have a close relationship with and do more for people."

The Vietnam Franciscan Province, founded in 1929 by French Franciscans in the northern diocese of Vinh, has 183 members, 10 novices, 13 postulants and 105 aspirants in seven dioceses.

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