Tam Ha (Vietnam). From 16 August to 25 November 2024, Sister Lidia Strzelczyk, Visiting Councilor of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, representing the Superior General, Mother Chiara Cazzuola, made the Canonical Visitation to the Mary Help of Christians Province (VTN) of Vietnam.
On 17 August 2024, the sisters returned to the Province House in Tam Ha to attend the opening Mass of the visitation which was presided by Father Joseph Nguyen Kim Khanh, Vicar of the St. John Bosco Province (VIE) of the Salesians of Don Bosco.
After the Mass, in the family spirit and with dances and songs of the cultural characteristics of Vietnam, the sisters joyfully welcomed Sr. Lidia who came and stayed among them.Representing the Province, Sr. Maria Hoang Thi Thu Ha – the Provincial had a warm speech to welcome Sr. Lidia. Next, Sr. Maria Hoang Ngoc Yen – Provincial Councilor gave a brief presentation about the country and the Province in Vietnam.
Then, Sr. Lidia shared with the sisters the meaning of the canonical visitation, starting from the Founders’ visits to the houses, meeting with individuals and educational objects. She also reminded the purpose of the visitation as “to strengthen the bonds of charity, to increase the efforts of fidelity to the Constitutions and to promote the development of works as a response to local needs in the spirit of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello” (Cons FMA No. 120). In addition, she emphasized the importance of taking the Word of God as a compass to guide the sisters during the visitation. Therefore, she had guided the sisters on the Method of sharing the Word of God that they would carry out when she visited the communities. The main theme for the community prayer and sharing was how to become a community that generates life or how to let life be generated in your community?
In the afternoon, Sr. Lidia met the Provincial Council, the Community Animators, Coordinators of Sectors of Formation, Youth Ministry, Salesian Family, Mission and Social Communication.
From 19 August to 16 November Sr. Lidia visited the communities, met and listened to each sister, conducted Lectio Divina with the sisters based on the Gospel text of the Wedding at Cana, met groups and members of the educational communities.
During her visit, she also attended the opening ceremony of the new school year for the postulants, novices and the first year juniors; met junior sisters; attended the postulant initiation ceremony; visited Archbishop Marek Zalewski, Archbishop Joseph Vu Van Thien – Hanoi Archdiocese and Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Nang – Saigon Archdiocese as well as met groups of the Salesian Family.
On 23 November 2024, the sisters attended the Thanksgiving Mass concluding the visitation. The Mass was presided by Father Barnaba Le An Phong, the Provincial of the Salesians of Don Bosco.
After the Mass, Sr. Lidia met the FMA and novices. With deep gratitude to God, she thanked Sr. Maria – the Provincial, the Provincial Council, the Community Animators and each sister for their careful preparation for the visit. When sharing her final report, she highlighted the positive points that the sisters have implemented together in each field and in the 6-year plan of the Province. In addition, she also pointed out the challenges and suggested things that need to be strengthened in the life of the Province.
With all her heart, she sincerely thank sisters. She experienced joy, simplicity, and family love when she was among sisters, and sisters’ life reflects the relationship of unity with the Mother General and the entire Institute.
Sr. Lidia concluded the presentation with the image of a woman embracing the earth, recalling the female kindness, compassion and sensitivity seen in the sisters; feeling embraced by the merciful love of God and Mary. She also left the sisters with Don Bosco’s words: “Come to Mary, she herself will protect and guard you under her mantle” as a wish and a prayer to ask Mary to always accompany and protect each sister in her arms.
Immediately following the presentation was a gratitude program with special and meaningful performances conducted by the sisters to express their heartfelt gratitude to Sr. Lidia.
On behalf of the Province, Sr. Maria – the Provincial deeply thanks Sr. Lidia: “Thank you so much for helping us to look more deeply at our motivation for dedication, at the renewal of our Salesian vocation conviction, at the relationships and working styles to generate life, at the unity of life of Marta and Maria; thank you so much for your different guidance and suggestions for the journey of each individual, of each community and of our Province in the present and the future… We remember you in our daily prayers and make our thanks more practical through our efforts to live well and holy lives every day.”
Thanks be to God and to the Institute for the time Sr. Lidia was present and lived among the sisters. May the useful things we received in the meetings continue to bear fruits of life in our mission of education and evangelization.
