By Fr. Nguyen Van Quang, SDB
Hanoi, Vietnam, Sept 11, 2015 - The year of Consecrated Life in Vietnam was concluded just few days ago with a special guest of honor, Archbishop José Rodríguez Carballo, OFM – Secretary of the Congregation for the Consecrated Life, in Ho Chi Min City Archdiocesan pastoral center last November 7, 2015 with a large presence of thousands of religious.
There are more than 16.500 religious in Vietnam (13.500 sisters and 3000 male religious), belonging to 254 different Congregations of diocesan or pontifical right. Majority of the religious is located around Ho Chi Min City (8500 sisters and more than 400 religious priests). The number of novices is about every year is about 600-700.
Following the gradual improvement of the relations between the Civil and Ecclesiastical authorities in Vietnam, recently four main male religious Congregations (Franciscans OFM, Dominicans OP, Jesuits SJ and Salesians SDB) were recognized by the Government authorities with a special Certificate. That means for the first time after 40 years the religious congregations in Vietnam can operate officially as public organization according the law of Vietnam.
CERTIFICATE
N. 05/GCN-TGCP
The Government’s Committee for Religions Affairs hereby certifies
Name of the Order: The Province Salesians of Don Bosco of Vietnam
Objectives: Instruction for youths and children, especially poor and at-risk children
Scope of activities: Religious activities, Vocational instruction, Charity
Organization: Attached list of Salesian Communities in the Province (15)
Head office address: 54 Road 5, Quarter 4, Linh Xuan Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Min City
Provincial: Fr. Nguyen Van Quang, born 1948
Registered to operate by the law of Vietnam and within the approved scope of activities.
PP. Committee Chairman
Attachment:
List of (15) Salesian Communities in seven provinces of Vietnam
Ho Chi Min City (Xuan Hiep, Ben Cat, Hoc Mon, Tan Thinh-Cau Bong, Ba Thon, Can Gio);
Lam Dong province (Da Lat, K’Long, Tan Ha VTC);
Ba Ria – Vung Tau province (Phuoc Loc VTC);
Dong Nai province (Tan Cang, Duc Huy);
Vinh Long province (Dong Thuan VTC);
Ha Tinh province (Ky Anh VTC) and Kien Giang province (Vinh Hiep). NB: VTC = ‘Vocation Training Center’.
