Don Bosco Van Phuc, North Viet Nam

By Fr. Duc Ai, SDB

Van Phuc, Viet Nam, 25 March 2018 -- Lenten season is the time for all Christians to examine, to do penance, and to return to God the loving Father. In order to live better in this lenten season, the Catholic students of Agriculral Institute had a day of recollection on Sunday, March 18, 2018 at Tu Dinh Parish, Bac Ninh Diocese, North Viet Nam. At 9:30, around 80 students gathered and greeted each other in Nong Vu Church. And then Fr. Jos. Tran Duc Ai the speaker shared with all the students about the lenten message 2018 of Pope Francis, the topic about “Because of the increase of evildoing. The love of many will grow cold” (Mt 24,12). The speaker helped all the students to notice about the false prophets, cold heart, and what we need to do?

First of all, the speaker explained about the lenten message 2018 of Pope Francis, and then he continued to expand the message by sharing to them what concrete things they need to do by practical examples. After that, Fr. Joseph invited all the students to live better Christian life in relating to their own self, to others and to God.

After the talk, the students had time for reflection and prayer. And in this time of silence they were invited to write letter to God. At 11:00 they had time to prepare lunch, and then they had lunch together and took siesta.

In the afternoon, at 13:30, all the students had Eucharistic adoration, and also in this time they were encouraged to prepare for going to confession in silence. This was also a response to the invitation of “24 hours for God” of Pope Francis to have the Sacrament of Reconciation together with Eucharistic adoration.

At 16:00, all the students participated on the Way of the Cross around the church. They carried the Cross in order to help them to realized more about the passion of Christ, and then they formed in lines to enter the church to kiss the Cruifix.

At 16:45, all the students had dinner together with the Salesians. After that, they prepared for the holy Mass. At 19:00 they attended the Eucharistic celebration presided by Fr. John Do Khac Doan, SDB and Fr. Jos gave the homily. With the theme of “unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit” (Jn 12, 24), Fr. Jos invited the people to look at Jesus as the grain of wheat, and then he also invited all who were present to die for their selfishness, and their sins. And then after the holy Mass the priests and all the people burnt their letters of a symbol of offering to God all of their prayers.

After that the students went home with joy and happiness. With a day of recollection with different activities, the students were able to know and realize more deeply about the love and the forgiveness of God so that they also in turn will share their love and help to others in order to bring joy and happiness to their neighbors.

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