Holiness is unconditional love and service
T he birth of my Missionary vocation: I was born in Vietnam. In my youth, there
were no Vietnamese missionaries. The concept that people had of a mission-
ary was of someone who left his country and never saw his home again. Natu-
rally, parents would never want their children to do that. Already as a novice I had
this desire but, I kept it to myself right up to my perpetual profession. Then one
day, in the 3rd year of Theology, I heard again the invitation for missionaries Ad Gen-
tes. I prayed seriously and placed myself in the hands of God. It really messed up my
mind, in the midst of my daily duties, studies, examinations, tons of worries, imag-
ined difficulties and challenges I would have to face if I become a missionary. Then
the first two missionaries were sent to PNG (they were my students, too), pushing
me to write the letter to the Rector Major. My offer was accepted.
I then received the news that my sister had been diagnosed to be with cancer and
was under treatment in the hospital. One of the nurses was a religious sister. She
knew me. One day she informed me that the cancer was a very dangerous one. My
sister would have to undergo chemotherapy. She could expect to live six months or,
at the most, a year. I cried for my sister. She had converted her husband and had 3 small children. I prayed to God
earnestly for a reasonable exchange: “Take my life and let her live.” But then, God happens to know better than we
do. God has kept my sister alive and healthy right up to now, and He sent me to Mongolia.
The time came to tell my superiors, and then my family, of my intention. My Mom did not want me to leave her, but
my Dad said, “You belong to God; you do what He wants you to!”
The challenges in my mission land: As a young cleric I was sent to the new mission of Mongolia (first group). The winter
in this country lasts more than 6 months. The temperature is below zero: -30, -40 and sometimes below that. Summer
is so short, but with the heat of a semi desert: +35, +40. The staple diet is meat and meat. Fruits of any variety are
unheard of! As a matter of fact, it couldn’t be more different from my own country where in all seasons it is green and
warm, and with plenty fruits and vegetables! Besides, the local language is so difficult to learn, to write, to speak …
But I can share with you that these are not the greatest challenges I face in my missionary vocation. My challenge is to
live in harmony and to work with the other Salesians even though they all are (and so am I) very enthusiastic and full
of zeal for the mission!
My greatest joy in the mission: I have been in all the communities and houses in Mongolia (there are only two)! In the
technical School, I enjoyed being with the youngsters and watching them graduate, get a job, start a family and find
success in life. Many of them return to our place and express their gratitude! While I am in the parish, my joy is to see
people receiving the faith; so much so, they enjoy coming to church even for daily mass which is not easy even in my
own country or with my own brothers and sisters. How much faith these people have here! One of my happiest mo-
ments was when a young man came to me for confession and he burst out in tears in the confessional! And they were
tears of joy! I could not have imagined how God works inside the hearts of people!
My humble thoughts for young missionaries: after my 18 years in the mission what I can tell you is, first: pray and make
a good discernment before going to the missions; check what your motivation really is; prepare yourself well with a
sense of acceptance and forbearance. Second: daily meditation; be close to Jesus; do not look for any interests of your
own; build up the community life first; see the other Salesians as your own brothers/sisters; love and care for them
sincerely; then the local people, especially the young, will follow in your footsteps, steps to holiness, steps of uncondi-
tional love and service. Last, but not the least: entrust all things to our Blessed Mary, Help of Christians!
Andrew Tin Nguyen, Vietnamese, missionary in Mongolia.
Witness of Salesian Missionary Sanctity
Fr. Pierluigi Cameroni SDB, Postulator General for the Causes of Saints
Saint Dominic Savio (1842-1857) was clear about his intention: "I want to become a saint, I must
become a saint and I will not be happy until I become a saint". He resonates a lot - if not every-
thing - of what Don Bosco had been able to convey to him, ever since the sermon in which Dominic
had heard these encouraging words: "To become a saint is easy. We must all become saints. There
is a great prize waiting in heaven for those who become saints.” Don Bosco himself wrote that this
sermon was the spark that kindled Dominic Savio's heart, making him a lover of God. He shared
this holiness with many friends, including in a special way Giovanni Massaglia. From this sharing
was born the Company of the Immaculate, the nursery of the first Salesian generation.
For the Church in AFRICA,
a leaven towards unity.
Salesian Missionary Intention
That the Church in Africa be a leaven of unity among
peoples and a sign of hope for this Continent.
Through the fruitful “Project Africa”, the Salesians are now present in 43 African coun-
tries, with almost 200 communities and about 35,000 committed lay people.
Let us pray that the Salesian Family, a wonderful missionary fruit and a gift to the
Church and the Continent, be a source of evangelization and a promoter of peace, unity
and solidarity, and be particularly caring for internally displaced persons and refugees.
