By VIE Provincial Secretary

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 14 September 2019 -- At the end of each annual animation visit of our EAO Regional Councillor we customarily hold a short provincial council meeting. Yesterday, 13 September (Mid Autumn Festival - Full Moon Festival in Vietnam) although two provincial councilors were absent (Fr. Phuoc - formation delegate - assisting the new missionary course in Rome and Fr. Chinh - social communication delegate - teaching the postnovices in Dalat), we gave two hours to sharing the work in progress in our province.

Just a few days after the inauguration of the new Delegation, the presence of the first Delegate, Fr. Thomas Aquinas Tuan, was a good chance to study the 'Road Map' together for the first 3 years of the Delegation and sharing some challenges encountered during this initial stage. The main need emerging is the formation of the confreres as leaders of local communities, as spiritual guides of the young and as animators of the main charismatic sectors - youth ministry, social communication, missionary animation, economy and the Salesian Family.

Most of the provincial council sharing time was dedicated to growth in the 'planning - process mentality', as one of the main fruits of the past 4 years. Indeed, this strong and overall drive to a planning culture is shaping the future of the whole provincial community. For example only a few years ago very few communities were able to organize a summer camp for young people, and at present almost all of the 30+ local communities are able to accompany the summer vacation time of numerous youth. This achievement is simply a fruit of consistent synergy between two sectors (Youth Ministry and Formation), that will be strengthened in 2020 with the added involvement of the Missionary Animation sector (volunteers Heart in Hand). Another process oriented action may become the July 2020 EAO Regional Congress of the Salesian Cooperators (To love, live for and serve the Young), that offers a good chance to learn the dynamics of lay formation.

During the rich sharing it emerged that the synergy among the six charismatic sectors not only produces external growth or achievement, but points to the quality of preparation, formation of youth animators, lay mission partners and even to the necessary qualification of the Salesian confreres. As one of the concrete needs, a 3 year project for joint formation of lay mission partners and Salesians in Salesianity (based in the province) was discussed.

We pray and hope that the most numerous of our EAO provinces will continue to walk along this important strategic choice to foster the planning mentality of all confreres for the benefit of thousand of young people who are waiting for Don Bosco's Salesians in Mongolia and in Vietnam.

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