By SC Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 18 March 2024 -- On the afternoon of 16 March 2024, the Youth Ministry of the Salesian Vietnam Province organized a Lenten Prayer Program with the theme "Dreams" at the Don Bosco Ba Thon Parish. The Lenten Prayer Program includes three parts: Retreat, Mass, and Prayer.

The theme of this year's Program is inspired by the Strenna 2024 of The Rector Major “The dream that makes you dream - A heart that transforms ‘wolves’ into ‘lambs’”. The program brings together more than 1,000 young people from Salesian Parishes and Parishes where Salesians come to help with pastoral care.

The program began at 3:00 pm with welcoming trumpets from the Prenovitiate Band. Next, there were joyful and dynamic dances by the groups of Salesians Aspirants and Students of Don Bosco. In his opening speech to the program, Fr Peter Nguyen Viet Quang Minh SDB (Youth Ministry Delegate for the Province) invited young people together to revive the dreams and hopes of Don Bosco: “I want you to be happy in this life and the next life.”

In Part 1 of the program - Retreat, young people listened to the sharing of Fr Peter Pham Huy Hoang SDB about the dream of the second son in the parable "The Merciful Father", the dream that changes lives. After listening to Fr Peter's sharing, the young people examined their consciences and received the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Part 2 of the program is the fifth Sunday Mass of Lent presided over by Provincial – Fr Barnabas Le An Phong SDB. Concelebrating with him were the Fathers on the Provincial Council and the Fathers accompanying the young people attending the program. In his homily, Fr Barnabas invited the community to reflect on the event in today's Gospel: Greeks went to Jerusalem to meet Jesus. Jesus knew what they wanted and inspired them with the image of a grain of wheat. Fr Barnabas also invited young people to be like grains of wheat and learn how to sacrifice and abstain from all frivolous values. At the end of the Mass, a young person representing the young people thanked the organizers.

After Mass, the young people were fed by the Salesian Cooperators. During this short time, they interacted with guest Catholic singers and quizzes about Lent and Strenna 2024.

After dinner, the young people entered part 3 of the program - Prayer. During the Prayer section, the young people listened and enjoyed the performances based on the real situation of the young people. At the end of this section, Father Provincial gave the program's closing speech.

The Lenten Prayer Program ends in joy and happiness. Hopefully, this program will inspire young people to dream of a holy future so that they can contribute a lot of positive energy to the Church and society.

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