ROME: September 2,
2014 –
The
four-week Course for the neo
missionaries is about to begin
here in the Generalate. It is
good that we get to know some of
the former EAO participants of
this intensive course offered by
the Missions Department.
From the big number of the
missionaries coming from Vietnam
who had attended this course,
one of them is Fr Joseph Dat
Manh Nguyen SDB. He was asked by
the Missions Department to help
Fr Alfred Maravilla SDB organize
and run this course for the new
missionaries.
Six years ago, as a young
cleric, Fr Joseph attended this
course, received his Missionary
cross with a mandate to go to
Turkey. After the course
however, he went first to Milan
to help as practical trainee in
the school for two years,
learning more the Italian
language. He then continued his
theological studies in
Crocetta-Turin. Last May 31, he
was ordained priest in the
Basilica of Mary Help of
Christians.
During his theological studies,
his weekend apostolate for three
years was with the Filipino
community of Turin, with Fr John
Benna SDB as their pastor. It
was only in his last year of
theology that he had the chance
to stay during the summer
vacation in Istanbul, so that he
could practice the Turkish
Language. Later on, after
helping in this course, he might
really start to stay in Turkey
and serve the youth there.
Missionary life is not always
about being immediately settled
in our places of destination.
Many times, there is a period of
prolonged waiting in order to
enter a mission teritory, to
obtain a visa, or to finish a
requirement or many other
assignments. Indeed, the
missionary life is more of the
journey towards God and the
others- anywhere, rather than achieving a
far-off destination to arrive
at.
