By VIE SocCom
Da Lat, Vietnam, 4 December 2024 -- On 30 November 2024 at the Postnovitiate Community, the Mission Sector of the Province of Vietnam organized Salesian mission day in the Lam Dong province - Highlands Region, bringing together more than 300 participants, including the Archpriest of the Diocese of Da lat Fr John Bosco Hoang Van Chinh, the Provincial Fr Barnabas Le An Phong, Priests and Brothers in the Provincial Councillors, SDB confreres, FMA sisters, Cooperators, Parents, relatives of Missionaries ad gentes, lay people and young people from Salesian communities and parishes.
After the opening and blessing by the Provincial, the participants watched a video clip on the theme of the SND: "Builders of dialogue" and the 25th anniversary of the first missionary expedition Ad Gentes of the Province. In his address, Fr John Bosco shared the theme "Builders of dialogue" in 3 points:
- Dialogue according to Vatican II.
- Conditions of dialogue: he stressed the importance of listening to others with the way of synodality.
- Missionaries of dialogue must dialogue with God before they can dialogue with others.
The program continued with songs and dances performed by guest singers together with the dance group of accompanying aspirants from the Da Lat community, Don Bosco students from Da Lat. The heart of the Salesian mission day was the mass of thanksgiving for the 25th anniversary of the first missionary expedition in the province. In his homily, provincial Fr Barnabas Le An Phong invited the community to become evangelists to have a loving heart, and to look at others with the heart, with love starting from the family, in the parish, and in the environment. The evangeliser should put God first, not works, and turn on the light of Jesus' love for all.
Before the end of the Mass, the Provincial Delegate for Mission Animation on behalf of the Missionary Sector and the community thanked Archpriest Don John Bosco, the Provincial, the Provincial Councillors, all the confreres and all the members of the Salesian Family. Before the final blessing, there was a sending ceremony, and after Mass, everyone had a family-style lunch together. Salesian Mission Day was over, but everyone felt a fire burning in their souls, calling them to go out and proclaim the Good News in their own specific vocation and environment.
