Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 5 November 2021 -- At 8:00 a.m, on 3 November 2021, at Ben Cat parish (Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City), a funeral Mass was celebrated for Salesian Brother Vincent Hoang Van Chuyen, SDB. Father Provincial, Barnabas Le An Phong, SDB, was the main celebrant at Mass while other Salesian Priests concelebrated. It was attended by other Salesians, FMA Sisters, members of the Salesian Family, Brother Chuyen’s relatives, the Novices, Prenovices and some parishioners of Ben Cat Parish.
Before the Mass began, those present heard a brief biography of Brother Vincent Hoang Van Chuyen. He was born on 16 March 1930 in the countryside of Nam Dinh province. He made his first vows as a Salesian Brother on 16 August 1964. After 57 years of his Salesian consecrated life, at 5:40 a.m, on October 31, his heart stopped beating, closing 91 years of his life on earth.
In his homily, Father Provincial highlighted the meaning of the souls of the righteous who are always in God’s hand. Through Brother Chuyen’s example of a simple and righteous life, Father Provincial also invited each person to strive towards righteousness in each stage of life, so as to always be joyful in God’s hand.
After the Mass, the Ben Cat parish priest, Fr. Peter Pham Huy Hoang, SDB presided at the farewell ceremony and accompanied Brother Chuyen's remains to Cau Bong cemetery. At the cemetery, Father Nicholas Kieu Long Ho, SDB presided at the burial.
It is known that the day before (November 2), the Salesian Province of Vietnam had also celebrated a private Mass to pray for Brother Vincent at Don Bosco Ben Cat community.
Fr Robert Falk (1932-2022)
5757(IV)_“If you want something done, ask a busy person”
