By Fr Khanh Quoc, SDB

Xuan Hiep, Vietnam, - On the morning of Saturday, May 7th, 2016, the Committee on Academic Affairs of the Province of Vietnam, together with the Theological Institute of Blessed Philip Rinaldi, held the symposium entitled “Understanding and Living the Jubilee Year of Mercy.” The symposium took place in the multi-purpose hall of the theologate in Xuan Hiep, Thu Duc district, Ho Chi Minh City.

Attending the symposium were Coadjutor Bishop Joseph Dinh Duc Dao of Xuan Loc diocese, Father Provincial Joseph Nguyen Van Quang, Vice-provincial Joseph Nguyen Van Am, Provincial Councilor for Formation, Joseph Nguyen Thinh Phuoc, Father Barnabas Le An Phong, Rector of the theologate, together with all the students and formators of Theological Institute of Blessed Philip Rinaldi and around 600 participants consisting of priests, religious, novices, postulants and aspirants of different religious congregations, such as Salesians of Don Bosco, Dominican Sisters of Rose of Lima, Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians, Lovers of the Holy Cross Khiet Tam, Carmelites and Our Lady of the Poor.

In his presentation, Bishop Joseph helped the community to understand the foundation of the Divine Mercy in the teachings of the Church, particularly in the Papal Bull Misericordiae Vultus by Pope Francis and the Encyclical Dives in Misericordia by the late Pope John Paul II. He also expounded the Biblical foundation of the Divine Mercy and some pastoral implications.

After the presentation of the Bishop were group-discussions and the open forum. To the question “how do consecrated persons live and express the Mercy of God in their religious life?” Bishop Joseph gave them concrete answers and guidance. To the question “how do religious superiors practice discipline and mercy in the community?” Bishop Joseph said that “to have unity in the community, every member should be willing to do the will of God and then trust one another. Unity cannot be achieved if one of the two elements is lacking.”

Part one of the symposium ended with the musical portraying the Mercy of God shown to the people of Nineveh, which was performed by Salesian sisters.

Part two consisted of four presentations from representatives of different religious congregations sharing about their charism and specific applications regarding the Mercy of God. Father Joseph Quang, the Provincial of the Salesians, presented “The Mercy of God in the Preventive System and Salesian Education.” Next were the presentations of representatives from Dominican Sisters of Rose of Lima, Lovers of the Holy Cross Khiet Tam and Our Lady of the Poor. Through vivid presentations of the speakers, the participants were able to see that the Mercy of God has been expressed through religious families in different ways, such as educating poor youth, serving drug addicts, helping the needy and teaching in nurseries and colleges.

Father Joseph Nguyen Van Am, Vice-provincial, said that “this symposium aims to invite not only us in consecrated life to know and live the Mercy of God, but also all people so that they should allow God to touch their hearts and transform them. All of us need the Mercy of God; once we experience the Mercy of God, we are able to show it to others.”

Finally, Father Joseph Am, on behalf of the organizers, thanked the Bishop, religious superiors and everyone for their enthusiastic participation. He also thanked those who made the event possible.

The symposium ended with a meal filled with fraternal joy, in which several items from different religious congregations were performed.

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