Brother stands tall! And once you've read the book, go and
see the film
TAN HA: 31st December 2005 -- In the long tradition
of outstanding Salesian Brothers, Bro Francis Xavier Long stands tall
as he holds his diploma from Hanoi-based Ministry of Education in
Vietnam. Not that he is physically tall, but he personally and
the Salesian commitment, relatively new for Vietnam, to vocational
training for poor youth, 'stand tall' not only in the eyes of
Government but the whole Salesian world. And what is quite
remarkable in this instance is the amount of public kudos in Vietnam
given the Tan Ha Vocational Training Centre in newspapers, magazines,
through awards and prizes. It has only been in existence for
three years, after all. A little of the story that lies behind
this achievement is in order.
The Community, Blessed A. Zatti its official
Salesian designation, originated from an experiment by the Salesian
Province of Vietnam in 1995. It began with the request of the
local Bishop to have some work for the young in Bao Loc, a concentrated
Catholic area. The Province asked Fr Dominic Pham Xuan Uyen to
purchase the land and sent Deacon Joseph Nguyen Van Chinh to settle in
the area and look for opportunity for Salesian work there.
After a few years of study and some attempts to
train local youngsters in mechanics and electronics, Deacon Joseph put
forward a proposal for a skills training centre. The proposal was
accepted and in December 2002, the ground-breaking ceremony took
place. The first students studied in two fields - electronics and
sewing. More shops were built to host more students and cater to
more needs. The Province sent more confreres and a community was
set up in June 2004 with Fr Joseph Chinh as Rector. There are
seven confreres in all, 4 priests, one Brother and one practical
trainee. Together they run a professional training centre with
331 students in five fields: industrial sewing, mechanics, small engine
mechanics, refrigeration repair, electronics. There are nine lay
staff including at least two from the local communist cadre. All
teachers feel at home with the Salesian community and are dedicated to
the programme. Recently the community has moved to a new
residence and uses the old one to bring in both boy and girl boarders
from poor families and/or who live far away. Typically, an
oratory has grown up too and a programme for junior aspirants.
It is clear, then, what Brother FX Long 'stands for'
in all this and why he stands tall, why the entire Salesian community
stands tall. It's an experiment in the Vietnamese Salesian
context, but one that appears to be working. A local and thriving
Salesian Cooperator unit has also grown up - four couples are involved
in the work of the VTC. Of course, it is not without challenges:
professional preparation of confreres like Bro FX Long, new structures,
new ministry, but if we want to finish the year '05 with a good news
story and a 'Brother' story, then this is it! And after all that,
now you've 'read the book', go and 'see the film'! Yesterday's
ANS at www.sdb.org. photo of the day.
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