austraLasia #3200
Vietnam Province and mission
contribution
HCM: 5 March 2013 -- The
General Councillor for the Missions, Fr Klement, has once
again been
able to visit Vietnam; it is some time since he has had the
opportunity
to see for himself the processes of discernment, encouragement
Salesians are given to be mission-minded in this nation where
the
Salesian charism has grown so much over recent decades.
There are a total of 84 Vietnamese Salesian missionaries 'ad
gentes'
who have been formally missioned from Turin in the more recent
annual
Missionary Expeditions. Of these 84, by far the greater number
are of
the 'student' category, i.e. they continue their initial
formation in
their place of mission. Salesian Brothers feature quite
prominently
amongst these numbers.
In this regard it is interesting to note that Sunday's L'Osservatore Romano
carried the official appointment of Bro Dominic Ngyuen Duc Nam
as Technical Director of L'Osservatore Romano,
replacing the Italian Salesian who has held that post for the
past 30 or so years. Bro Dominic has been in Italy since 2006.
Fr
Klement spent 5 days in the province visiting, besides the
Provincial
House, obviously, Dalat, and a quick visit to K'Long retreat
House. At
the Don Rua community in Dalat he spent time with the
postnovices and
met with the local council which also includes members of the
province
mission commission.
Given its significant missionary
contribution, Vietnam Province has a
well-articulated mission plan which, besides its 'ad gentes'
focus, is
no less involved in local mission, recognising that some 84%
of
Vietnamese have not yet had the opportunity to know Jesus and
his
Gospel. As the plan (2010) put it: "The Province keeps on
spurring the
mission ad gentes
amongst the
young confreres. At the same time, a more planned commitment
to bring
the Gospel to non-Christians in the country is needed. In the
3 coming
years, a systematic effort to inspire missionary spirit in
those in
initial formation (aspirants, prenovices, novices, postnovices
and
practical trainees) should be done. In this way, the Province
tries to
encourage the Salesian Brothers and Priests working for the
non-Christians. The Province will be attentive to the signs of
the time
and opportunities to foster the Missions. A closer cooperation
with the
other provincial commissions for the greater effectiveness of
the
Mission should be done".
Fr Klement, speaking
with the postnovices, pointed out the urgent needs of certain
places
for missionaries. He explained that missionaries do not bring
God to
people so much through words, but with loving hearts and their
lives.
He also pointed out the difficulties in the mission area,
requiring a
deep inner life with God. Besides, the missionaries also have
to put
all their faith and trust in Him knowing that their work is in
His
hands.
Fr Klement also took time to meet and share with 10 new
candidates who have put their names forward for the missions
this year.
