austraLasia 1372
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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AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For RSS feeds, subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/rssala.xml
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.
________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For RSS feeds, subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/rssala.xml
