By VIE SC

       Don Bosco K'Long, 20 April 2022 -- At 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, in the chapel at K'Long Retreat Center, the Bishop of Thai Binh Diocese, Peter Nguyen Van De, SDB, presided at the opening Mass of the 2022 Provincial Chapter of the Salesian Province of Don Bosco Vietnam. Concelebrating with him were Fr Provincial, Barnabas Le An Phong, and all the priests attending the Chapter.

       In his homily, Bishop Peter sent a message to each Salesian, to consider themselves as a provincial chapter, a community, a single Salesian to always live true to their identity and do the core thing of Salesian mision to save the souls of young people. He said that it was enough for the Salesians to practise what had been recorded in the working document of the Provincial Chapter. He also emphasized the presence and care, pedagogy and education of each Salesian. He noted that the Salesian presence and assistance were not only for the brothers in the practical training, but for all and individual Salesians.

       After the Mass, Fr. Provincial thanked Bishop Peter for his love of the Province and for being present to preside over the opening Mass of the 2022 Provincial Chapter.

       Then at 9:30 a.m., after a prayer asking for the grace of the Holy Spirit, the first working day of the 2022 Provincial Chapter began with presentations by Sister Mary Hoang Thi Thu Ha, FMA, Sr. Provincial of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians; Ms. Minh Ngoc, Chief Volunteers of Don Bosco; Mr. Quang Ninh, Provincial Coordinator of the Association of Salesian Collaborators; Mr. Duc Le, the Provincial Coordinator of the Don Bosco Alumni Association and Ms. K' Diem, a youth representative.

       Then at 11 a.m. came the procedure for conducting the Provincial Chapter with the confirmation of the legitimacy of the Chapter members with the presence of 72 members and the election of two secretaries of the Provincial Chapter. Fr. Joseph Doan Hai Dang and Fr. Dominic Tran Quang Hien were elected as secretaries. Next, Fr. Provincial announced the opening of the Provincial Chapter and Fr. Ngoc Vinh, the Provincial Chapter coordinator, approved the schedule and agenda of the Provincial Chapter, agreeing on how to work in the Provincial Chapter based on the proposals of the Provincial Chapter’s resources, speaking in plenary sessions, announcing and defining the work of the groups.

       After lunch and break, at 2pm in the chapel, Fr. Joseph Nguyen Van Am helped the Chapter reflect on religious vocation in the life of the Church today.

       This was followed by a plenary session with speeches by the Provincial on the current situation and direction of the Province for the next 6 years; of Fr. Thomas Aquinas Tran Quoc Tuan, the Superior of the North Delegation; of Br. Joseph Dang Van Chau Tran representing the Superior of the Mongolia Delegation, and of Fr. Joseph Nguyen Tri Dung, Provincial Delegate for Social Communications of the Province. Then at 17:30 was recess and sports, at 6:30 p.m. Vespers and Eucharistic adoration, followed with dinner, rosary and evening prayer. The first working day of the 2022 Provincial Chapter closed with the goodnight talk from Fr. Regional Joseph Nguyen Thinh Phuoc.

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