Novitiate house, Vietnam

By Fr. Joseph DANG, SDB (Novice-master)

Bathon, HCM City, Vietnam, 10 September 2019 -- How do we build our community? How do we grow in our vocation in our ordinary busy apostolic life? One of the answers is the regular 'Community Day' celebrated in many different ways. Every second Monday our 6 Salesian priests, one Salesian Brother and one practical trainee with 19 novices celebrate Bathon community day. On 9 September we met all together for the whole morning. Our Rector Fr. Peter Pham Van Bo, took advantage of the animation visit of our EAO Regional Councillor, and we had a good opportunity for a lively conference, peppered with the Question and Answer session propelled by the novices.

At the centre of our community day was the Eucharistic celebration with the presence of all 6 priests who are busy during the whole week with Masses in the parish and beyond. The homily at our calm and well animated Mass offered spiritual food for the day.

The family spirit of the community day was felt strongly also during the lunch time, that was extended by a special games session, when we were all divided into 4 teams to compete for simple awards. The 'Baby Duck' team (=aka Balut) of the formators table was the winner. Indeed, it was another ordinary day but lived with an extraordinary family spirit that inspires everyone to recharge the batteries and rekindle the fire of our apostolic consecration. Thanks to all novices and confreres who contributed to this monthly occasion!

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