3760(I)_Twenty two New Salesian Cooperators in Viet Nam

By Le Loc

Thu Duc, Viet Nam, October 5, 2015 - On Sunday morning October 4th 2015, the mass of the Promise for 22 new Salesian Cooperators was held by the Salesian Cooperators Association at the small church of St. Francis Xavier, a sub-parish of Tam Hai parish.

Present at the ceremony of the Promise were Mr. Peter Le Thanh Bao, ASC Coordinator in Viet Nam, Fr. Joseph Tran Van Hien SDB, Delegate for Salesian Family, some local delegates of the coop. centers (SDB & FMA) and about 200 members of the ASC.

Last Saturday, Oct. 3rd, 22 candidates spent one day of retreat at the church of St. Francis of Xavier to prepare for their promise with the accompaniment of Fr. John Nguyen Van Ty, the former provincial of VietNam and Fr. George Nguyen Duc Phung SDB.

Before the mass of the Promise, Fr. Joseph Tran Van Hien, Delegate for the Salesian Family, talked to all ASC members of the meaning of their vocation and of the way to live it in their daily lives. Mr. Peter Le Thanh Bao, ASC Coordinator, also shared his experiences of how to live this vocation in solidarity among them as the members of the ASC, with their centers and with the whole salesian family in Vietnam.

To the ASC Coordinator, Mr. Peter Le Thanh Bao, the promise of the new candidates are organized in two occasions: one in Saigon at the sub-parish of St. Francis of Xavier on Sunday October 4th, and the other in Dalat at the salesian parish Lien Khương on Saturday 10th. It is more convenient for the travel of the members.

Twenty two new cooperators of this time belong to 7 centers: Blessed Maddalena Morano (in Ha Noi), St. Joseph (Hoc Mon), St. Callistus Caravario (Go Vap), St. Joseph (Thu Duc), St. John (Ho Nai), Mary of Rosary (Thu Duc), Annunciation (Tam Hai).

The mass of the Promise was presided by Fr. Joseph Tran Van Hien, Delegate for SF, with the concelebration of Fr. John Nguyen Van Ty, Fr. George Nguyen Duc Phung, Fr. JB Phan Huy Chuong và Fr. Peter Tran Khai Hoan. In the homily, Fr. Joseph talked of the “FIAT” of Mary and wished all of the Salesian cooperators to say “YES” to God as Mary did in their commitment for the benefits of the young people.

In the ceremony of the promise, Fr. Joseph received the promises of the new candidates.

After the mass, all of the salesian cooperators present gave big congratulations to 22 new members and joined in the party together.