One winter night, Sister Maria Nguyễn lay awake in her warm bed, her thoughts turning to the migrant fisherfolk working at sea. She imagined their daily struggle against biting winds, relentless rain, and exhausting labor conditions endured in every season. The contrast between her comfort and their hardship stirred her deeply.

“I thanked God for all that He has given me,” she recalled, “and I longed for these fishers to feel His blessings too.” That moment of reflection became the seed of a mission rooted in compassion and faith.

Sister Maria serves in pastoral ministry for migrant fisherfolk in Taipei. She regularly visits ports along the island’s northeast coast, offering emotional support, spiritual accompaniment, and a reassuring presence to men who live and work far from their families and homelands.

Guided by the Pope’s call to welcome migrants and the displaced—many driven from their homelands by poverty, war, or climate change—Sister Maria believes society must open its doors. For her, this means offering not only food, medicine, transportation, and emergency aid, but also friendship and the gift of human dignity.

In the cold winter months, the fishers’ need for warm clothing grew urgent. Moved by their plight, Sister Maria reached out to fellow Christians and volunteers from the Buddhist Tzu Chi Charity Foundation. Through this interfaith collaboration, Tzu Chi generously donated winter jackets for the fisherfolk.

With quiet resolve, Sister Maria personally traveled to 17 ports along Taiwan’s northeast coast, distributing more than 2,300 jackets. The fisherfolk were deeply touched by this act of compassion—an expression of solidarity that bridged faith traditions.

Through this simple yet profound gesture, the fishers were reminded that they are remembered. Even far from home, they felt a warmth that went beyond the jackets they received—it was the warmth of love, solidarity, and companionship extended to them.