By Viet SC
At 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, August 15, 2023, on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, God continued to pour out the Gift of Consecration on the Salesian Province of Don Bosco Vietnam through the Mass of The Perpetual Profession of 5 Candidates.
The Mass was presided over by the Father Provincial Barnaba Le An Phong. Concelebrating with him were Father William Matthew - Provincial of Australia, Father Joseph - Provincial of Hong Kong, Salesian Fathers, guests, Salesian Brothers, Men and Women Religious of different Congregations, relatives and friends of the candidates.
At the beginning of the Mass, with a feeling of gratitude, the celebrant invited the community to follow Mary's example to "know", "understand" and "live" God's will in each person's life.
After the proclamation of the Gospel, the rite of perpetual profession begins with the introduction of the candidates.
The rite of vows is followed by a sermon. The Provincial emphasized Mary's joy expressed in the Magnificat. According to him, it was a great joy, profound and complete, a joy to be blessed by God, and to do great things in her life. Moreover, her joy is one based on a sense of her littleness, the historical littleness of an entire people. That joy is therefore not a personal joy of hers, but of the common joy of the little ones raised by the Lord in His Grace. And with that mindset, Mary set out on a mission to give joy to others.
From this foundational example, the Provincial also reminded the candidates to show joy and conviction in the consecrated life. At the same time, with a sense of their own inadequacy, brothers are called to give back to God all that they 'are' and that they 'have' to serve Him throughout their lives. "And that joy, like Mary, hopes to last for the rest of the life of each brethren, through concrete life plans"; Father Provincial concludes.
The Rite of Profession continued and ended well in a solemn and holy atmosphere. The concelebrants on the sanctuary represented the community to express their condolences and congratulate the brothers in the great moment.
Before the end of the Mass, Brother Dominic Le Hoang Truong Son with a meaningful "thank you" expressed his gratitude and emotional feelings to the Province and their parents. Besides, Brother Simon Hoa Le Trung Tin also thanked the Provincial and the Province of Hong Kong - where he spent his years living and serving here.
After Mass, everyone has more time to share joy and congratulations through a family meal.
