Happy Feast day of Saint Joseph - from Vietnam
HCM City, Vietnam, 18 March 2017 -- Don Bosco entrusted our Society in a special way to Mary, whom he made its principal Patroness, as well as to St. Joseph and to St. Francis de Sales. (SDB Constitutions art. 9) In Vietnam Saint Joseph is also among the main Patrons of the Catholic Church, his Feast day is celebrated in a special way. For one simple reason, that we find about 10-20% of the Catholic men in Vietnam baptized with his name.
In the largest apostolic community of Ben Cat (Ho Chi Minh City: Parish, High School boarding house, Aspirants, College students, Migrants, Oratory and many other outreach) with 21 confreres we find not less than eight (8) confreres named Joseph.
Solemn liturgy on Sunday evening (March 19) and on the liturgical Feast of the Saint (March 20) was prepared by a Novena. This community is animating also a large network of 17 boarding houses for College students. Just yesterday I had a rare occasion to celebrate in one of the College boarding house their Patron - Saint Joseph! 15 College student prepared carefully a wonderful Taize style evening prayer with 14 different characteristics of St.Joseph with beautiful songs, candles and meaningful animation.
With the best wishes to all confreres in the EAO region, who were baptized with Joseph's name, starting from the Provincial of VIE (Vietnam-Mongolia) Fr. Joseph Quang and many others! May St.Joseph's life style of care, accompaniment and assistance be our daily model to follow!
