How are formed the future Missionaries - Dalat Don Rua
Dalat, Vietnam, 21 April 2017 -- During past 18 years (1999-2016) not less than 111 Vietnamese Salesian missionaries ad gentes finalized their missionary vocation discernment in this postnovitiate community and were sent to 47 different provinces in all five continents. Dalat City is located in pleasant Highlands climate, city of flowers, students and famous tourist destination, 300 km from Ho Chi Minh City with provincial house.
Dalat Don Rua is the only Salesian compound that survived the turbulent events in past 45 years – being built by late missionary Fr. Luigi Massimino (CIN) in 1972-4. This post-novitiate community is made up of 48 confreres (10 formators and 38 postnovices; rector Fr. Joseph Hung) and is entrusted also with a variety of youth ministry services in Dalat City. Center of studies (3 years philosophy – pedagogy course) is open also to other religious congregations.
There is a vibrant, quasi-parish of Don Bosco with 650 Catholics (200 families) and 500 children and youth in Sunday Catechesis. Dalat Youth Ministry has a wide range of destinataries: College – University Aspirants (42 students in three hostels, 4 year program, this year 10 candidates are sent to the Pre-pre-novitiate’ stage). Junior Aspirants (Come and See – 42 high school students), Non formal primary school (93 migrant children, grade 1-5 assisted by 8 teachers), Oratory: daily - weekend program (50) and summer activity with 600 participants); University student pastoral: 250 students including 140 living in 9 different hostels with the help of Salesian Cooperators. The Salesian Family of Dalat is still small - Salesian Cooperators (52 members and 3 Aspirants in formation and 3 VDB members.
What makes this community a good missionary formation venue? There is strong formation equip and joyful family spirit. The presence of nine Salesian Brothers (one formator and eight postnovices) makes our vocation complete. There is a close and solid spiritual accompaniment of the young Salesians (average age of 27) with community sharing and personal follow up. There is a harmony of studies, community life prayers (daily Rosary, Adoration hours included) and apostolate on the weekend. All house chores, maintenance and works are done by the postnovices themselves and weekend apostolate among the ethnic minority youth of Lam Dong province helps confirm the missionary dynamics.
With a consistent effort over past 15 years also the proficiency in English language did improve a lot. Now the presence of first two resident volunteers from USA (Salesian Lay Missioners – SLM: www.salesianlaymissioners.org) Nick and Michael makes this community truly international and inter-cultural. All postnovices and some formators have daily opportunity to practice English conversations according their needs.
The postnovitiate formation in Dalat is very vibrant and does favour a sound missionary spirit in all Salesians. Until now not less than 93 of the 111 missionaries sent out by the Rector Major to the missions are still witnessing to the Gospel in all continents. This is among the lowest rates in the Congregation (16.5% of return. Also this year four Don Rua community postnovices are on the list of the 148th Salesian Missionary Expedition (September 24) in Valdocco and one more 3rd year students is heading for a practical training to Cambodia Delegation. Also the Vietnam – Home mission for the ethnic people in the central highlands and in the North does motivate the vocation journey of the young generations. Many of them nourish the missionary dream since their Aspirantate.
We pray, that the missionary fire in the hearts of young Salesian of Vietnam will continue to burn!
Related articles: AustraLasia 4219 (I), 4123 (I), 4071, 3992 (I)
Viet Nam Salesian Missionaries Ad Gentes video (2017): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwYtEbT68MU
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