On July 3, 2023, the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, Father Dominic Nguyen Duc Thong CSsR, Superior of the Province of Vietnam, celebrated the opening Mass of the new Novitiate for the year 2023-2024 in the Community of Hue.
Before the celebration, Father Thomas Aquino Vu Quan Bang, assistant to the Novice Master, introduced the 13 novices.
At the beginning of the Mass, the Provincial Superior underlined the importance of the formation period not only for the novices but also for the entire religious community. He then spoke of the need for sincerity in the relationship with God, the spiritual director, and oneself.
The Provincial underlined: “The strongest motivation for these actions is a deep faith, a personal encounter with the Lord, as expressed by Thomas after touching the wounds of the Risen One: “My Lord and my God!” (Jn 20:28). The Novitiate is a moment in which every novice seeks this, a faith that is not borrowed from parents or the parish, but a unique personal experience.”
Before concluding the Mass, Father Joseph Pham Quoc Giang, Superior of the Community of Hue, expressed his gratitude to the Provincial Superior. Then the Provincial Superior announced that the Venerable Blessed Mykolay Charnetsky is the spiritual model and patron of the group.
May the Savior, through the intercession of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, bless the novices, allowing them to make the most of the time full of grace granted by God. May they establish a personal relationship with God, striving to become Missionaries of Hope in the footsteps of the Redeemer.
Fr. Anthony Nam Nguyen CSsR
