Xuan Hiep, Vietnam, 31 August 2016 -- On Wednesday morning, more than 800 benefactors and their family members gathered at Blessed Philip Rinaldi Community to celebrate The Day of Gratitude.
The Day of Gratitude has been celebrated every year due to the initiative of Father Dominic Pham Xuan Uyen, SDB. This day is dated back to the time when Father Dominic was still the Rector of the Community. And it has been dedicated to express gratitude to benefactors. Father Dominic once shared that “most of our benefactors are just ordinary people from Ho Chi Minh city as well as from other parts of the country such as Ho Nai, Gia Kiem, Binh Thuan…They have been gathered by areas and have made monthly contributions.” Father Uyen added “beside subsidiaries of the Province, generous contributions of benefactors help us considerably in the formation of the brothers.”
On this occasion, the seven newly ordained priests also returned and celebrated their thanksgiving Mass with the Community as their expressions of gratitude. The Thanksgiving Mass, starting at 10am, was presided by Father John Nguyen Duc Tien, one of the newly-ordained priests, and was concelebrated by Father Joseph Nguyen Van Am, Vice- Provincial; Father Barnabas Le An Phong, Rector; and priests of the Community. Towards the end of the Mass, Father Joseph Nguyen Van Am, Vice- Provincial, awarded bachelor’s degrees in Sacred Theology to graduate students. Finally, Father Barnabas Le An Phong, Rector, presented to honored guests fruits of the formation of the Community with 7 newly-ordained priests, 8 deacons, 8 perpetually-professed brothers, 8 brothers of second year and 7 brothers of first year. Father Barnabas, on behalf of the Blessed Philip Rinaldi Community, expressed heart-felt gratitude to benefactors and assured them of their prayers.
The celebration ended with a joyful and fraternal meal.
Training course on master of ceremonies (mc) at Don Bosco Dalat
Dalat, Vietnam, 1 September 2016 -- To equip Catholic students, who have had activities at Don Bosco Dalat, with necessary skills to become masters of ceremonies, from August 28 to August 30, a training course was held by Father La Minh Cuong,SDB, the In-Charge of the Group and facilitated by Mr. Minh Vu, a professional master of ceremonies. The course with more than 40 participants ended with fruitful outcomes.
With more than 10 years of experience in religious events and programs, Mr. Minh Vu, in a three-day course, offered students with essentials in this field. For him, to become a professional MC, one should possess good voice, a sense of humor, some necessary skills and be always open to learning. During the course, every participant had 2 sessions on theory and 5 sessions in practice. And each participant had at least 5 to 6 times performing on the stage. The trainer was able to make the students enthusiastic with his sharp remarks and comments. On their parts, the students also overcame their shyness once they were on the stage and were able to put aside their notes. “We focus on practical skills. With 5 times performing on the stage, the students make a lot of progress and become more confident,” said Mr. Minh Vu.
“Skills to become master of ceremonies are very necessary and useful for students. In this course, I disccover that some of the students have potentials to become professional MCs in the future and I have confidence in you. I hope that all of you will put more effort in practicing with interest, enthusiasm and confidence and that you will obtain some achievements,”Minh Vu added.
Hoang Thuy, Head of the Catholic students Group, shared that “as soon as the course on Master of Ceremonies ends, another course on the English language will be started at the beginning of September, divided into two levels: basic and advanced, with Vietnamese English teachers as well as native speakers.”
May God bless all of us and our activities!
