5314(II)_Give them something to eat!' (Lc 9,3)
Deacon ordination of 4 EAO missionaries in Brazil
February 11, 2020
Brazil, 11 February 2020 -- On 8 February, in the Salesian Parish of Mary Help of Christians, Bom Retiro (Province of Sao Paolo) 14 Salesian deacons were ordained, including 4 missionaries from our EAO region - 3 Vietnamese and one Indonesian confrere:
Deacon Bartolomeo Nguyen Quang Lam Son (BMA - Brazil - Manaus) sent in 2012
Deacon John Baptist Nguyen Duy Tan (BMA, Brazil - Manaus) sent in 2012
Deacon Joseph Tran Van Lich (BCG, Brazil - Campo Grande) sent in 2014
Deacon Beatus Volkmar Tola (BCG, Brazil - Campo Grande) sent in 2014
Fr. Joseph Nguyen Thinh Phuoc (who, from May 2020 will be a member of the Missions sector in Rome) was there on behalf of the Vietnam - Mongolia Province.
The other 10 deacons belong to the six Brazil Salesian provinces, while the common theologate is located in Sao Paolo. We wish all EAO missionaries in Brazil and other Latin American countries deep faith, daily growth in their response to God's call! One of the four new missionary deacons shares:
"became a happiness for me and thirteen classmates, who on February 8, 2020, we received the holy ordination as deacons by Bishop Eduardo Pinheiro, SDB. Among these 14 deacons, there are 4 missionary deacons. I'm from Indonesia, Lich, Barto and João from Vietnam.
In the homily of bishop Eduardo, he outlined the duties and important role of deacons in the post modern era. The bishop said that being a deacon, is to be a person who is together and trying to be like the Good Shepherd, Jesus himself, that is simple, listening and empathizing in line with the motto of ordination of deacons, that is, “You give them something to eat”. Here is the father the bishop asks deacons to authentically understand a ministry as a deacon.
Of course I am challenged to give my best according to my abilities and talents. And it is not easy for me as a missionary who is not very good in Portuguese, but I always believe that behind the ruins of destruction there is a point that shines brightly. For this reason, I do not want the language barrier to be a reason for pessimism in sharing and sharing good news about the kingdom of God.
Being a deacon is not just about how well you speak or preach, it is more than how much love and active service you have for those who are poor, unnoticed and displaced. It is these people who have established me to love my calling as a Salesian and a Salesian deacon."
For readers and especially young people, I believe you certainly have many great points about how and should be deacons, but one thing that I and you believe is to become deacons is our duty as followers of Christ, and the quality of our service is when we do all that in the name of love together and with Jesus, the good shepherd.
At present there are 5 Vietnamese, one Filipino and one Indonesian missionary living and working in Brazil; two of them are Salesian Brothers.
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