Entrance into Postulancy – VTN

Tam Ha (Vietnam). On 7 October 2021, during Vespers for the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, at St. Joseph House of Mary Help of Christians Province (VTN) of Tam Ha, Vietnam, seventeen young women began the journey to become Daughters of Mary Help of Christians with their entrance into the Postulancy, the time preceding the Novitiate.

Present at the celebration were the Provincial, Sr. Maria Hoang Thi Thu Ha; the Provincial Councilor for Formation, Sr. Teresa Uong Thi Doan Trang; some Animators; and FMA from the three communities of Tam Ha.

Despite its liturgical simplicity, the moment of entry into the Postulancy has profound meaning. The young women commit themselves to deepen the call of God and personal formation, living authentic experiences of prayer, community, and apostolate, according to the spirit of St. John Bosco and St. Mary Domenica Mazzarello.

The Rite began with a prayer for the candidates, after which Sr. Marta Hoang Thi Thuy, Animator of St. Joseph Community, presented the 17 young women who are about to enter the Postulancy.

Called by name by the Provincial, they openly expressed the desire for a deeper personal relationship with Christ and to serve poor and abandoned young women, according to the Charism of the FMA Institute. With confidence in the grace of God and under the guidance of Mary Help of Christians, they asked to begin this formative stage. Sr. Maria Hoang Thi Thu Ha gave each one the medal of Don Bosco and Mary Help of Christians. In an atmosphere of joy, the participants congratulated the 17 new postulants.

Addressing them, the Provincial underlined the significant anniversary of the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary for entry into the Postulancy in which God, who calls each one to be with Him to be sent, gave Mary as a guide and teacher. For this, looking at her, one must have trust and move forward in peace. In each vocational stage, the FMA Institute invites us to look at an aspect of Mary. The attitude chosen by the Postulants, with the verse taken from the passage from the Wedding at Cana, “Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water’ and they filled them to the brim (Jn 2:7)” is that, like Mary, to listen to the Word of God, ponder it in the heart, and be ready to serve.

The Provincial also spoke to them about the interior life and reminded them that the signs that allow us to recognize a person who, taking Mary as a model, cultivates interiority, always seeking communion with Jesus in the Eucharist, seeking His will, cooperating with the grace of God, and fervently proclaiming the Good News. Finally, she wished everyone, in particular the new Postulants, to “resemble Mary a little more every day who listens to the Word of God and puts it into practice. Mary is always present and shows us what to do, but we must also act so that she may be with us.”

At the end of Vespers, the Postulants expressed their gratitude to God, to the Provincial and to the Provincial Council, to the Animators of the Communities, and to all the FMA who accompanied, encouraged, and supported them on the journey, helping them to discover the will of God and to respond with courage to His call.

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