Tam Ha (Vietnam). On 15 May 2022, at the seat of the Vietnamese Province of Mary Help of Christians (VTN) of Tam Ha, Thuc Duc, the Provincial Youth Ministry Team organized the meeting of young people GEN H – 2022 on the theme “150th Love” for celebrate the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the FMA Institute (1872 – 2022),
The meeting was attended by more than 600 young people from different locations in Southern Vietnam where the FMA work: the Provincial, Sr. Maria Hoang Thi Thu Ha; the Vicar, Sr. Maria Nguyen Thi Tuyet Nhung; the Provincial Coordinator of Youth Ministry, Sr. Maria Thu Ha; the one Responsible for the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM), Sr. Maria Thien Hang; the Animators of the Communities; and various FMA.
In a first moment of welcome, the young people participated in knowledge dynamics, such as sending their personal information on paper airplanes, which helped them to meet, build relationships, and create harmony with each other to get to the heart of the encounter.
The joy for the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the FMA Institute was expressed through the songs and dances of the Vietnamese FMA. The Mother General of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Sr. Chiara Cazzuola, then sent a warm Video greeting to the young people of Vietnam, wishing them to become people of hope, honest citizens and good Christians, committing themselves to be balm and salt in the lives of others.
Sr. Runita Borja, General Councilor for Youth Ministry, also reached out to young people in the virtual mode, reminding them to be disciples of God who know how to love each other, because love is made possible by three characteristics: non-discrimination, selfless giving, and freedom.
A member of the Provincial Team of the SYM, in the name of all the young people, then expressed profound gratitude to God and to the FMA Institute, “Thanks to the presence and loving educational accompaniment of the FMA, the Good News has spread and the young people have in turn become a blessing for others. We are young people raised in the wonderful educational environment of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.”
The Provincial thanked the young people for having celebrated this important event with the FMA and left them a message, “love as God loved us and respect those you love,” wishing them to carry out projects for the good to continue living happily in their own daily lives.
Then the participants continued the experience through challenges in three game stations. In the first station, they understood and faced their greatest fear in living love and overcome it with courage. In the second station, they recognized and accepted Love and the good things in life, with gratitude and respect. In the third, they understood that living love together is the way to stay united and spread love.
The “itinerary of love” was concluded by the Youth Ministry Councilor, accompanied by significant songs performed by young singers.
The culmination of the meeting was the Eucharistic celebration presided over by Fr. Joseph Nguyen Xuan Quang, a Salesian of Don Bosco, and concelebrated by Joseph Le Quoc Hung SDB. In his homily, Fr. Joseph invited young people to look to the example of Jesus, who loved with selfless love, to the point of giving His life. He said, “The 150 years of presence of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians are a proof of God’s love, and are full of concrete sacrifices that the sisters have accumulated for young people.”
The “150th Love” meeting has ended, but joy still shines in the eyes and smiles of the young people, with the hope that what they have experienced will continue to bear fruit in their daily lives.
