4891_Missionary Gratitude and Commitment

Salesian Mission Day in Vietnam

October 24, 2018

By Fr Joseph Phuoc Nguyen, SDB

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, 21 October 2018 -- This year, the Provincial Mission Day was celebrated in a special way. The Salesian confreres, novices and alumni have successfully invited two former missionaries back to Vietnam for the event: Fr.Germain Lagger SDB and Salesian Brother Cesare Bullo.

Both of them did their missionary ministries in Vietnam from the early 1960’s to 1975 [the year when they were expelled by the new communist regime] as formators, economers respectively. Hundreds of students and a number of the young Salesian novices and confreres were under their pastoral and educative care. On this PMD they paid tribute to the generous sacrifices of all missionaries who came to Vietnam from various provinces: Italy, France, Brazil, Slovenia, China, England. The history of missionaries in Vietnam was told in detail by videos and testimonies which showed the past works done by the missionaries. In such a way, the older confreres [sixty up] and the alumni had the opportunity to refresh their minds with memories of good old days where they spent their boyhood and student life with these missionaries.

At the same time, a small group of past pupils who have just graduated from Salesian Technical Schools and Vocation Training Centres (after the year 2000) showed up for the event, joining the old Don Bosco Alumni group with their youthful presence.

Their gratitude for the past brings forth their commitment to the future missions. The provincial expressed his wish that the Salesian Mission Day be held annually as a Province tradition, and invited the alumni of the past and recent times to join together with the Salesians in various mission activities, since the Salesian congregation is missionary by nature.