St. Alphonsus Theologate celebrated the opening of the new academic year 2023-2024 and the graduation of the Batch 2023 on Saturday morning, September 2nd, 2023 in Vietnam.
The Mass was presided over by Fr. Dominic Nguyen, the Provincial Superior of Vietnam, with more than thirty concelebrants who were superiors, representatives, and professors from different religious congregations. There were also more than two hundred students from twenty-five religious congregations/orders attending the Mass.
In his homily, Fr. Dominic emphasized the importance of the formation process in becoming a witness and a true member of the missionary body of Christ. He said, “We study now to equip ourselves to be worthy instruments in the future, the aim of the formation is not to be what you can do but who you will be. That is to become a witness, a true member of the missionary body of Christ. We are called to be the disciples of Christ and to glorify the name of God through our lives.”
The graduation ceremony was held after the Mass. Father Joseph Bich, the Director of St. Alphonsus Theologate, opened the ceremony with his speech. Father Dominic Nguyen, the Chancellor, and the president of St. Alphonsus Theologate, officially conferred and gave academic awards to twenty-one students of Theology who recently graduated from the six-year course of theology and philosophy.
After that, Father Dominic Nguyen declared the launch of the new academic year of 2023-2024. Finally, Father Anthony Nguyen, the dean of the Theologate, delivered messages and orientations to the students for the new academic year.
The opening of the new academy and the graduation ceremony were held in solemnity and peace. Students started the new school year with plentiful joy, vigour, and hope.
Duc Trung Vu, CSsR.
