Vietnam - Time of grace in midst of a Pandemic

26 August 2021

(ANS - Ho Chi Minh) - July and August are months of grace for the Salesian Congregation all over the world and, clearly, also in the Salesian Province of Vietnam, where there have been numerous religious professions and ordinations.

In the community of the Novitiate of the Sacred Heart of Ba Thon there were two important events. Last Thursday, August 12, 2021, a Mass with the rite of Profession of Faith was celebrated by Fr Vincent Hoang Phi Hai for his new ministry as the novice master. On the same day, 14 new novices were admitted. Subsequently, on 13 August, a Mass was celebrated for the first profession of 19 candidates and for the renewal of the vows of three young Salesians.

At the Community of the Theologate Rinaldi, on 14th August, before the feast of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven, six young Salesians made their perpetual profession in the Salesian Congregation, ready to dedicate their whole lives to the mission of evangelization and education of the youth.

Furthermore, in the Ky Anh community, on Sunday 15th August, during the solemn Mass to celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven, a Salesian brother made his perpetual profession, while a cleric in temporary profession renewed his vows.

Normally, such occasions are moments of joy, reunion, sharing, of careful preparation, of solemn celebrations and of great congratulations. However, after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the ordinations of the deacons and priests of the Province were postponed and all the Masses for their respective offices took place in a very simple and, above all, silent way.

All this silence can make one feel heartbroken. In these moments it is comforting to recall the parable of the seed, which Jesus used to speak about the Kingdom of Heaven (Mk 4: 26-29): He said: “The kingdom of God is like a man who sows seed into the ground; be he asleep or awake, night or day, the seed sprouts and grows; how, he himself does not know as the earth spontaneously produces, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. When the fruit is ripe, he takes his scythe, as the harvest has come.”

The seed that is sown into the earth, under any circumstances, will grow silently, take root, develop, bear fruit, and wait for the harvest. Likewise, the silence of all past Masses will also be blessed by God and, precisely this silence, will be a greater source of nourishing energy for the seeds that have been sown.

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ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007.

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