austraL asia #2595
Salesian Family in Vietnam opens retreat centre and celebrates 'Family Day'
HO CHI MINH CITY: 13th February 2010 -- The Province of Vietnam has been blessed with a new Retreat Centre at Khanh Than Klong (K'long, Duc Trong) which was partially inaugurated on 8th February. It was really an effort from the whole Salesian Family in Vietnam to put into effect a decision taken by the SDB Provincial Chapter 2007.
The project was followed up with prayers and generous donations from different people: parents of the confreres, alumni, parishioners, friends of Don Bosco, etc. Many months were spent in paperwork which is not so easy in a socialist country like Vietnam. Then, the design was changed accordingly as well as financial difficulties during the worldwide economical crisis.
Yet, as the whole Salesian Family is celebrating the holy year in honor of Blessed Michael Rua, the province finally can offer this centre as a part of its mission to serve the Salesian Family members and the young in a more spiritual and profound way.
On 9th February, instead, in preparation for the Lunar New Year, a Salesian Family Day was held in the theologate compound of the Vietnamese Province. For many years now, this day has become a traditional one where many members of the Salesian Family gather together once a year. Salesian teachers and pupils of various generations, classmates, the FMA’s, the VDB’s had an opportunity to be re-united to celebrate the joy of being together, share their stories of services to poor youth in the country as well as offer best wishes for the New Year.
More than 600 gathered for the event. This year, the Salesian Cooperators were in charge of the program. A key speech was delivered by the Provincial, followed by a video clip to highlight important points of the Strenna 2010. Then, one by one, stories of each group of the Salesian Family were told to the whole audience to witness the growth and expansion of the Salesian mission and services.
The Provincial also used this blessed moment to inform the whole audience of some recent good news. A Vietnamese missionary, Fr. Andrew Tin was recently appointed by the Rector Major to be the superior of the new Delegation of Mongolia (which is affiliated with the Vietnam province). Fr. Andrew was making a home visit to celebrate the New Year with his parents and was present for the moment. He had a chance to share some edifying stories of his mission in Mongolia. Some missionaries from Papua New Guinea, Solomon Island, Peru were also present for the gathering. Their presences showed the growth and vitality of the SDB Province which is sending more and more missionaries.
The Salesian Family Day reached its peak with the Eucharistic Celebration and the Shared Meal enjoyed by every one. Every participant felt a sense of belonging to a great Family with great people and great saints. They will enter the New Lunar Year with a more committed engagement to put into practice the Strenna given by the Rector Major.
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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 queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use Bosconet-wiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - just go to Bosconet, click on austraLasia 2009 in the sidebar. You will see the RSS orange icon in your browser address bar - add it from there. Or be interactive with the EAO blog Cetera Tolle. Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at http://sdl.sdb.org
Salesian Family in Vietnam opens retreat centre and celebrates 'Family Day'
HO CHI MINH CITY: 13th February 2010 -- The Province of Vietnam has been blessed with a new Retreat Centre at Khanh Than Klong (K'long, Duc Trong) which was partially inaugurated on 8th February. It was really an effort from the whole Salesian Family in Vietnam to put into effect a decision taken by the SDB Provincial Chapter 2007.
The project was followed up with prayers and generous donations from different people: parents of the confreres, alumni, parishioners, friends of Don Bosco, etc. Many months were spent in paperwork which is not so easy in a socialist country like Vietnam. Then, the design was changed accordingly as well as financial difficulties during the worldwide economical crisis.
Yet, as the whole Salesian Family is celebrating the holy year in honor of Blessed Michael Rua, the province finally can offer this centre as a part of its mission to serve the Salesian Family members and the young in a more spiritual and profound way.
On 9th February, instead, in preparation for the Lunar New Year, a Salesian Family Day was held in the theologate compound of the Vietnamese Province. For many years now, this day has become a traditional one where many members of the Salesian Family gather together once a year. Salesian teachers and pupils of various generations, classmates, the FMA’s, the VDB’s had an opportunity to be re-united to celebrate the joy of being together, share their stories of services to poor youth in the country as well as offer best wishes for the New Year.
More than 600 gathered for the event. This year, the Salesian Cooperators were in charge of the program. A key speech was delivered by the Provincial, followed by a video clip to highlight important points of the Strenna 2010. Then, one by one, stories of each group of the Salesian Family were told to the whole audience to witness the growth and expansion of the Salesian mission and services.
The Provincial also used this blessed moment to inform the whole audience of some recent good news. A Vietnamese missionary, Fr. Andrew Tin was recently appointed by the Rector Major to be the superior of the new Delegation of Mongolia (which is affiliated with the Vietnam province). Fr. Andrew was making a home visit to celebrate the New Year with his parents and was present for the moment. He had a chance to share some edifying stories of his mission in Mongolia. Some missionaries from Papua New Guinea, Solomon Island, Peru were also present for the gathering. Their presences showed the growth and vitality of the SDB Province which is sending more and more missionaries.
The Salesian Family Day reached its peak with the Eucharistic Celebration and the Shared Meal enjoyed by every one. Every participant felt a sense of belonging to a great Family with great people and great saints. They will enter the New Lunar Year with a more committed engagement to put into practice the Strenna given by the Rector Major.
_________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use Bosconet-wiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - just go to Bosconet, click on austraLasia 2009 in the sidebar. You will see the RSS orange icon in your browser address bar - add it from there. Or be interactive with the EAO blog Cetera Tolle. Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at http://sdl.sdb.org
