4816(I)_"For me to live is Christ" (Pl 1, 21)
Celebration of Perpetual Profession
and 25th anniversary of religious life
August 11, 2018
HCM City, Vietnam, 8 August 2018 -- It is the strong belief and commitment of the three Vietnamese Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, who celebrated their 25th Anniversary of consecrated life in order to live intensely the covenant of love with God, following St. John Bosco and St. Domenica Mazzarello. It is also the living maxim of fifteen sisters who made their Perpetual Profession in the Institute of Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in Vietnam.
The solemn Mass of Perpetual Profession and 25th Anniversary of religious life was celebrated at the Mother House of the Province of Mary Help of Christians on Sunday August 5th, 2018. The Mass was presided by Bishop Joseph Do Manh Hung – The Apostolic Administrator of Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City and concelebrating with Him were priests. Many religious men and women, parents and relatives of sisters, benefactors and guests came to communion in prayers and shared joy with the Province.
In the homily, Bishop Joseph shared: “Vocation is a Gift, a choice and also a mystery from God. The love and covenant of God for His people is a beautiful experience for 15 sisters who make their perpetual profession of vows and 3 sisters who celebrate the 25 years of their profession. A covenant is preceded by God and committed to fidelity. This journey has not lacked weakness and imperfection but filled with God’s love and graces. A joyful experience of consecrated life! Therefore, the invitation to respond to God’s love and live intimatedly with Christ becomes stronger and more definitive than ever: ‘No longer I who live, but Christ lives in me’."
The peak of ceremony of profession of vows is the profession - the great act and definitive decision, the moment of showing the living encounter and mystery between God and the disciples. The sisters made their profession publicly and signed their application on the altar.
In the Mass there is also the rite of renewal of the three vows of three sisters who celebrated their 25th Anniversary of religious life. They received the burning lamp as a sign of mindfullness and fidelity to God, as the symbol of passion and love which nourish their daily commitment.
May God’s love and graces continue upholding and strengthening the faithfulness of the sisters who made their perpetual profession and celebrated 25 years of consecrated life today. May Mother Mary Help of Christians protect them and fullfil their commitment to Christ forever.
Celebration of First Profession of Religious Vows
On Saturday morning, August 4th, 2018, twenty novices made their First Profession of Religious Vows in the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in Vietnam, making it the most crowded batch of First Profession in the Province up to now. "Lord, I come to do Thy will" (Ps 39, 8) is their living maxim, which expresses their aspiration to be effective instrumentals to do God’s will.
The Holy Mass of the First Profeesion of Vows was presided by Fr John Nguyen Van Ty, the former Provincial of Salesian Don Bosco Vietnam and co-celebrated by priests. The mass took place at the Mother House of Mary Help of Christians Province.
In the homily, with intense belief, Fr. John shared with the community the Three Gospels Vows which the novices were about to made. He called: "Consecrated life is following Christ, living close and dedicated to Him without hesitation".
The ceremony of making Religious Vows - the great and definitive act, is a mysterious and personal encounter between God and human. "Lord, I am here, You have called me” – one by one of twenty novices responded to the Lord’s call in order to closely follow Christ with the spirit of St. John Bosco and Mother of Mazzarello.
May the Lord’s blessings grant upon the new professions so that they are always enthusiastic, generous to dedicate themselves to God and brave to proclaim the love of God for people, especially for the young.
