SALESIAN MISSIONARY IN FOCUS
TAKING risks in MISSION LIFE
13/2/2009 - Papua New Guinea - A Salesian
attacked
(ANS – Vanimo) – Yesterday, 12 February, Fr Anthony
Nguyen Ngoc Dung was attacked by a drunken student
at the ―Don Bosco Secondary School‖ in Vanimo.
At the moment there are no further details available
about the tragic event other than the fact the young
attacker was drunk. The Salesian was immediately
taken to the hospital in Vanimo for treatment and
surgery; if his condition does not improve he will have
to be taken to Port Moresby.
Fr Nguyen Ngoc Dung is a 38 year old Salesian from
Vietnam who arrived as a missionary in the Philippines
in 2002. On 1 September 2008 he was transferred to
the house in Vanimo.
16/1/2009 - Congo-Kinshasa: Two Salesian
Missionaries Injured in Gang Attack
Goma — Two Catholic religious working in eastern DR
Congo are nursing injuries in hospital following a violent
attack by an armed gang on Wednesday night.The gang
stealthily entered the Salesian community at the
Industrial Technical Institute in Goma and assaulted the
five religious men living in the school. The institution is
located near the headquarters of the United Nations
Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(MONUC).
The gang took away everything they could from the
house, the Salesian News Agency (ANS) reported.
The rector of the institute, Fr Firmin Kikoli, and Brother
Alonso Honorato were injured and hospitalized. Doctors
said that their conditions are not very serious.
On receiving news of the attack, Fr Guilherme Basa-es,
Salesian Councillor for the Africa-Madagascar Region,
said: "We know how in recent times the Congregation,
the Pope and the world have looked with compassion at
the tragic situation of the people and the youngsters of
Goma. Let us continue this network of closeness and
solidarity, asking the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire
effective processes leading to justice and peace".The
community of the Industrial Technical Institute in Goma,
the first Salesian foundation in the city, is now at the
heart of the civil war in eastern Congo. Opened in 1981,
institute has a secondary school, a festive oratory and
various pastoral activities.
(March 30, 2009) - Fr. Anthony at present is recuperating at the mini hospital in
Don Bosco Makati. He spends some time sharing his reflections about life and what
his missionary experiences have taught him. We pray for his continued recovery.
There are times mission life can be unpredictable. The Salesian News
Agency reported two incidents just in the beginning of the year involving
Salesian missionaries under assault. These attacks could be more, but the
more publicized have happened early this year particularly in Congo-
Kinshasa and in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea. (Read accompanying article).
Fr. Anthony Nguyen Ngoc Dung is a Vietnamese Salesian who shares
snippets of what happened in his near death experience after being
physically attacked by a student in Don Bosco Vanimo.
His Salesian vocation began when he was still 18-years-old amidst a
young and suffering Church in Vietnam. He entered the aspirantate from
1996 to 1998 leading up to his postnovitiate. It was on August 15, 1998
that he then took his first profession. The then Br. Anthony spent his first
year practical trainee in Vietnam from 2001 – 2002. In the succeeding
year, he came to the Philippines on March 16, 2002, upon the exchange
program between Vietnam and the Philippines. He was assigned in Don
Bosco Canlubang where he organized the football club of the school
winning friends among the youth through sports. Br. Anthony had his first
taste of the missions when he was sent in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea
from May 2003 – 2004. It was finally in August 1, 2008 that he was
ordained to the priesthood. In his love for the missions, Fr. Anthony spent
his first year of priesthood back in Vanimo.
Fr. Anthony recalls the attack on the fateful day of February 12, 2009. It
was at 6:30 pm during supper time with the boarders. The boy, a grade 12
student-boarder, approached him at the dining area while everyone was
having their meal. He received the boy with a smile but he was greeted by
being strucked with a bush knife straight to the right shoulder opening a
deep wound. The laceration hit vital parts of the large veins in his arms
causing large amount of blood to spill out. The boy kept swinging the bush
knife as Fr. Anthony tried to ward off the attacks. He used his right arm to
repel the knife but his fingers were cut too in the process. The boy lunged
the knife straight to his abdomen as a final blow where it finally could have
been Fr. Anthony’s last. He lay almost dead on the floor. Somehow, during
the commotion, some of the boys got the courage to stop their fellow
boarder from the ruthless attack.
Fr. Anthony has undergone several operations and blood transfusions
when he was brought in the Philippines for medical treatment. He
continually pray and thank God for his near death experience. It was a
moment of blessing for him when others might think of it otherwise.
Through it, he sees what is truly essential in life.
Fr. Anthony has no bitterness for the boy. He was asked by the
Diocesan bishop what his last words were as he was given up for dead
after the attack. Fr. Anthony with all conviction said “Do not punish the
boys. I forgive him before he even asks forgiveness. I love him more now.”
All rights reserved 2009 By: Ronaldo s. Lora
