Tam Ha (Vietnam). On 5 August 2023, at the seat of the Vietnamese Province of Mary Help of Christians (VTN) of Tam Ha, Thuc Duc, Holy Mass was celebrated with the Perpetual Professions of sixteen FMA.
The Celebration was presided over by Msgr. Joseph Do Quang Khang, Bishop of the Diocese of Bac Ninh, and concelebrated by the Vicar General of the Diocese of Quy Nhon, Fr. Barnaba Le An Phong, Salesian of Don Bosco, and by more than 60 priests. Present were the parents and relatives of the candidates, men and women religious, benefactors, and guests from the Province.
At the beginning of the Mass, the Bishop repeated the words of the motto chosen by the candidates to invite the community to thank the Lord for the grace granted to the Institute, to the Province, and to each one: “The love of Christ impels us” (2 Cor 5:14).
After the proclamation of the Gospel, there was the presentation of the sixteen candidates and then the homily of the celebrant. Reflecting on the meaning of the response “Here I am, send me” and on the prayer of the rite of Perpetual Profession upon the bestowal of the symbol, “be God’s marvelous crown and royal jewel,” Archbishop Joseph invited the Sisters to become aware of their own vocation, of the eternal Love that God had for them even before they existed, so that they could immerse themselves in His Love as ones sent. At the same time, he encouraged them to cherish their vocation and keep it so that, wherever they are, they may attract everyone to God and also the Sisters.
Subsequently, after the interrogation of the candidates, the litanies of the Saints, the signature at the altar of the sixteen FMA who publicly made their perpetual vows to belong to God forever, and the solemn prayer of consecration, the Provincial, Sr. Maria Hoang Thi Thu Ha, on behalf of the Mother General, welcomed them among the Perpetually Professed Sisters of the Institute. The Bishop then placed the crown, the chosen symbol, on their heads.
Before the final blessing, Sr. Maria spoke for the Province to express her sincere gratitude to Bishop Joseph, the priests, the religious, and all the guests who had come to pray and share this joy with the Institute. She also expressed her profound gratitude to the parents of the Sisters, because “for Don Bosco parents are the first benefactors of the Institute,” and she wished them to taste the irrepressible joy of generously offering their daughters to God.
“The love of Christ impels us” (2 Cor 5:14) is also the joyful response to God’s eternal call to the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. May the Lord and Mary Help of Christians continue to accompany and shower these Sisters with blessings, so that they may dedicate themselves generously with happiness and commitment to serving God among poor and abandoned young people.
Condivido la vostra gioia, che è la nostra, di tutte. Coraggio, Avanti con cuore grande e generoso