Dalat, Vietnam, 24 February 2017 -- Dalat Don Rua community (postnovitiate, quasi-parish, oratory, migrant children school, university students pastoral, junior and senior aspirants) hosted the second meeting of the Salesian confreres with the 10th successor of Don Bosco. More then 80 Salesians (among them 11 Salesian Brothers!) gathered in the Auditorium of the Postnovitiate for 3 hours open sharing. According Fr. Angel these are the most important moments of his animation visits in the provinces - during first 3 years he met already about 7.200 Salesians face to face at these occasions.
After three full days of interaction with the Vietnamese Salesian Charismatic reality this talk was quite direct, warming the hearts, showing the overall vision and way forward for the Salesian Mission and Life in Vietnam. Fr. Angel helped to widen the vision about our Charism with many contemporary examples from all five continents to highlight the way forward. The main appreciation about the Salesian charismatic values was about the culture and numbers of Salesian Brothers (Su Hyunh in Vietnamese, 60 Brothers among 300 SDB) and the strong missionary culture and generosity (120 Vietnam SDB working as missionaries ad gentes).
With a typical very gentle but straightforward way of talking the successor of Don Bosco mention some opportunities and temptations that need to be acknowledged and faced by the Vietnam-Mongolia Province and also pointed to the need to dream and work together for the vision of Salesian Charism in Vietnam in 10 years time. It was a strong invitation to work together, with faith and creativity for new and especially educative expressions of Salesian mission!
"The most dangerous thing is to be satisfied with the old-well known ways of our mission"
"We need to deepen our common vision about Salesian works' - it's not about the opinion of the RM, but about the rich heritage of the Salesian 'Magisterium'"
"I invite you to be attentive to the signs of our times" and be sure that the great vocation blessing will not 'last for ever"
"The Province that is inward looking, close on itself, has no future and is already death"
"As Pope Francis warned about the danger and temptations of clericalism: Grow as generous and serving Salesians!"
"If a Salesian does appreciate the gift of community, he is not a true Salesian! Excuse me this openness"
"For the future of the Salesian Charism in Vietnam you need to think more about new works in the North and more education mission in a variety of expressions!"
Due to the presence of seven parish priests (out of 32 in the province) good percentage of the time was focused on the Salesian identity of our mission and especially of the Salesian parishes.
- Dont' worry that your parish might be deeply Salesians - it's the wish of the Bishops and of the Church!
- Each of the 2200+ Salesian parishes is entrusted to the Salesian Congregation and local Community, not just personally to the parish priest. This comunitarian responsibility is a guarantee of Salesian identity
- Truly Salesian parish priest needs to relate deeply to the youth, not just know them on photos.
- We are not a parish Congregation, although we have so many parishes in the world. We are a Congregation for the education and evangelization of the young - in the schools, oratories, social works, boardings and also in parishes!
After a short break Fr. Angel replied to some specific questions about Salesian Life style witness, What makes the Salesian Parish truly Salesian, about harmony in our life and mission, between consecration - fraternity and mission for the youth.
The family-like sharing was concluded with a photo session and welcoming to the Bishop of Dalat Mons. Anthony Vu Huy Chuong, a good friend of the Salesians, who comes every month to celebrate the Eucharist in Dalat Don Rua Compound.
The afternoon of February 24 in Dalat will be youthful time with about 1200 young people from our Salesian presences around this City including the joint recreation, encounter and dialogue with the Rector Major, followed by the Eucharist and cultural night. As already in Ho Chi Min City on the 21st February the Youth Meeting with the RM is broadcasted in live streaming: on the SDB-VIE http://sdbvn.net Youtube channel.
