Vocation journey of Salesian candidates in Vietnam

By Our Own Correspondent

Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam, 18 February 2017 -- With Don Bosco and With the Times: As in every EAO country, also the culture and life of young people is changing fast and dramatically. And our vocation culture and vocation journey towards Salesian consecrated vocation - Salesian Brother or Salesian Priest becomes more challenging than few years ago. The AustraLasia readers would remember that just few years ago there were about 450 College Aspirant attending some seven Sunday centers weekly. It's already a history. At present time about 250 young men attending College or University are accompanied in three main vocation centers every Sunday. Among them every year about 20-30 are accepted as pre-novices. However even this first stage of Salesian initial formation is not anymore enough. Since this school year the 2-year prenovitiate course is on full swing in Cau Bong (Ho Chi Min City).

Cau Bong prenovitiate community (Rector Fr. Peter Ngan) is composed of 6 Priests, 3 Brother and one candidate to the priesthood - practical trainee. There is also a wonderful parish with an Oratory, center of Junior aspirants (high school age). Due to a new paradigm of prenovitiate (basically 2 year course), there are 50 young men - 21 of the first year (preparation to the pre-novitiate, with a focus on English language and basics of community life) and 30 of the pre-novitiate year living together. This year for the first time there is also one resident full time volunteer from England to assist our candidate in serious language study. Big thanks to the commitment and patience of Mr. James, who fall in love with Vietnam!

Accompaniment means an open heart, means a dialogue and journey together. Some questions raised by our candidates offer a precious inside into the soul of young generation growing in the house of Don Bosco:

• I feel tired on my vocation journey, how to keep alive my initial zeal?
  (already spend 5 years in a hostel with other aspirants during College studies)


• What's the main difference between a diocesan and Salesian life?


• I lack still patience with God, not giving Him much of my personal life, what to do?


• Coming back after 2 weeks New Year holiday i feel little home-sick, what to do?


• In order to be a Salesian missionary, what special preparation do I need?


• We live as one family, but how can we share more deeply - not only superficial things?


• How is the situation of the young people in the world?


• How do I encounter Jesus in the young people?

For our Cau Bong formators every day is a busy day: study, work, prayer, sharing, sports and simple mission for the young in the Oratory. We pray for their patience and consistency in accompanying the future Salesian generations!

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