By Viet SocCom

Xuan Hiep, Vietnam, 14 November 2023 -- Father Alfred Maravilla - General Councillor for the Missions, arrived at the Philip Rinaldi Community in Xuan Hiep - Thu Duc at 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, 9 November 2023, and began visiting this Theologate. This visit is part of his Extraordinary Visitation to the Salesian Don Bosco Province, Vietnam. Accompanying him was Brother Bosco Tran Dinh Hoc Hai as an interpreter.

Father Alfred presided over the Mass at 5:00 a.m. on Friday, 10 November 2023, and presided over the opening of the Extraordinary Visitation immediately after the Mass.

After opening the visit, Father Alfred met personally with the priests and brothers in the community to discuss all areas related to the Salesian vocation, the situation of the community, and the province. These are friendly meetings through which he will discern and give necessary instructions to each member, the community as well as the Vietnam province.

In addition to the main task of meeting each member individually, he will also visit apostolates that the community undertakes. In addition to the main task the community undertakes is to train brothers during the specialized training period in theological subjects at Don Bosco Vietnam Theological Academy. The community also has Salesian apostolates, which are: (1) Don Bosco aspirants (about 60), (2) Don Bosco pupils (about 130), (3) Xuan Hiep Parish, and (4) Tam Hai Parish with parishioners and immigrants, schools for poor pupils, (5) oratory.

Especially during the first Mass with the community, Father advised the theology students to know how to choose their attitude while studying theology; to not only stop studying theology just in the mind but also have a profound transformation in the heart. During the Mass celebrating Saint Artemides Zatti on Monday morning, 13 November 2023, he emphasized that Salesians should imitate Saint Zatti to be moved by the suffering and poor.

The visit ended on 13 November 2023 after a general meeting and his comments to enlighten the community in formation and apostolate. Hopefully, Father Alfred's visit as the representative of the Rector Major will bring to the community the fruits of the Salesian spirit that Don Bosco desires.

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