By Pietro Giuseppe Hoang Khanh
Thu Duc, HCM. City, Vietnam, 2 August 2024 -- On July 30, 2024, Saint John Bosco Vietnam Province (VIE) organized the Community Feast Day with the theme "Joyful in Family Love". This is a special occasion for Salesians to gather around the Fr. Provincial to thank God and is also “a sign of its fraternal communion and an expression of its gratitude” (General Regulation No. 42).
The Community Feast Day started at 8:00, Salesians from all over the country were present at the Philip Rinaldi Xuan Hiep Community to meet each other and prepare for the Mass.
At 8:30, the Mass presided over by Provincial Fr. Barnabas Le An Phong, SDB, took place at Xuan Hiep Parish. Concelebrating the Mass were priests from the Provincial Council and other Salesian priests. Salesians, Novices, and Pre-Novices attended the Mass.
In his sermon, the Provincial spoke to the Salesians about two things, that is, to give thanks for the love of Providence and that Salesians must walk in the love of Providence. Starting from the Collect Prayer, the Provincial invited the members to look back on their lives to experience the grace of God pouring out, especially the grace of following Don Bosco in the Society of Saint Francis de Sales. Based on the Gospel of the greatest man in the Kingdom of Heaven (Mt 18: 1-6. 10), the Provincial spoke to all about the heart of children, which is to place themselves in the loving arms of God. Finally, the Provincial Father reminded the Salesians: “We must be aware of our vocation, Divine Providence has called us to be disciples of God - Apostles serving the youth.”
After the homily, the Provincial and the Salesians participated in the Rite of Renewal of Vows of the members celebrating the anniversary of their Profession. The Mass then continued with the Prayer of the Faithful.
At the end of the Mass, Vice-Provincial Father Joseph Nguyen Kim Khanh, SDB, represented the Salesians of the Province to thank God, thank Don Bosco and express gratitude to the Provincial, Father Barnabas. In response, the Provincial thanked the Vice-Provincial and everyone, and he also invited the Salesians to continue to collaborate with him in the Salesian mission of the Province. Next, as a good tradition on the Community Feast Day, the Provincial also gave a "letter of obedience" to a number of Salesians.
The Community Feast Day continued with a football exchange at the Xuan Hiep Community Football Field. Afterwards, everyone continued to share the joy at a fraternal party at the Xuan Hiep Parish Hall. At 13:30, The Community Feast Day continued with performances by many groups. Afterward, the Province celebrated the 70th birthday of the Salesians and the anniversary of their profession and ordination.
The Community Feast Day 2024 program ended at around 4:30 p.m. The Salesians returned to their communities to prepare for the new school year 2024-2025.
