By Fr. Joseph Nguyen Thinh Phuoc, SDB
Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam, 19 September 2020 -- On the morning of Saturday 19 September 2020, in communion with the Funeral Mass celebrated by the community of Artemide Zatti [Venezia-Mestre, Province of Nord Est Italy], the provincial community and a number of confreres from the nearby communities celebrated the Holy Mass for the eternal rest of Brother Lodovico De Marchi, missionary in Vietnam from 1959-1876.
The Provincial presided at the Mass and shared his reflections on the life of this great missionary. Among various former missionaries who laid the foundations for the Salesian charism in Vietnam, Brother De Marchi dedicated his Salesian youthful energy to the newly-founded mission. Returning to his origin province because of the political situation, he still nurtured his love for his missionary land and continued to assist Vietnamese refugees in Italy for numerous years.
