austraLasia #3423

 
Vietnam as seen from Spain
May 3 2014 -- “The history of the Salesians in Vietnam has taught us that we have to focus on people more than institutions, buildings, activities" , explains Fr Joseph Tran Hoa-Hung, Provincial of Vietnam.

Vietnam has a dark period in its history. The arrival of the Communists amidst a very tough war forced the population to learnt o adapt to conditions of poverty, not only material but also intellectual and spiritual. Foreign missionaries were expelled from the country and the Salesians who remained there had difficult trials to surmount. “It is a time we could compare to the seed beneath the soil hoping for the moment when it can sprout. From this we learned that to understand and influence people we had to be with them, learn about their life and share their problems”, Fr Joseph added. Today in Vietnam, the Salesians see more clearly than ever before that people come first and that a threefold dialogue is needed in order to move ahead. a dialogue with the poor, with local religions and with culture.

The education and formation of the young is the priority for the Salesians in Vietnam. “The intellectual and academic level of the young leaves much to be desired. The Communist system of education, more than being a critical mentality, tends to foster a passive kind of learning”, Fr Joseph says. “and we have not forgotten that a basic human formation is essential so that education is not mere preparation for a job and that the changes going on in Vietnam be more than superficial ones”, he added.

The Salesian Mission Spanish website is seeking help for Vietnam from its users.  It offers the following factoids about VIE:

    15 presences
    258 Salesians
    17 oratories
    6 vocational training centres
    2 job-training centres
    1 street-children centre
    5 boarding establishments
    1 social development centre

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Vocation activity in the Philippines

CANLUBANG, Calumba City, Laguna: May 3, 1024 --  Five practical trainees renewed the profession of their religious vows during the morning mass celebrating the feast of Sts. Philip and James in the Diocesan Shrine of Mary Help of Christians. Four clerics from FIN and one coadjutor brother from FIS.

One Year
Br. John Raymond Montejo, SDB (FIS)
Cl. Cyril Vincent Noel, SDB (FIN)
Cl. Jan Renan Parala, SDB (FIN)
Cl. Jules Brian Punsalan, SDB (FIN)

Three Years
Cl. April Jerome Quinto, SDB (FIN) [and author of this article]

Fr. Eligio Cruz, SDB, FIN Provincial Superior (accompanied by the rector of the prenovitiate formation house and the vice-rector of the postnovitiate formation house, Fr. Gerardo Martin, SDB and Fr. Caesar Dizon, SDB, respectively as witnesses) accepted them on behalf of the Rector Major.

Fr. Eli invited all who were present, among them was the family of Cl. Jerome, in the mass to pray for the young Salesians that they remain faithful in their vows. He challenged those who renewed their vows not to be self-referential rather to see their life in Christ.

Today also begins the four-day vocation camp for candidates to the aspirantate for 2014-15. Nine young men have generously said yes to discern their vocation to the Salesian life. Two among them are young professionals.

The camp will be held at Savio Camp Site in Don Bosco Tabor House, Pansol, Calamba City, Laguna, May 3-6, 2014. Fr. Regulus Porlucas, SDB and Cl. Jerome Quinto, SDB will accompany the candidates that will prepare them for their entry to the prenovitiate house.

Accompany us.