austraLasia
#1808
RM's opening words in
Vietnam - a good way to put the visit into context
[full text of
opening remarks]
HO CHI MINH CITY:
10th April 2007 -- "But you all look
so serious! You know, when the Rector Major visits the confreres, there is a lot
of joy around. Are you all happy and joyful? [Yes!!!]. And now that you are all
awake, first of all I would like to thank Fr. John Baptist Them for his words of
welcome. Especially because the whole province of Vietnam is meaningful for the
whole Congregation. Maybe you know that when I was elected Rector Major in 2002,
I was invited to visit Vietnam on the occasion of 50th anniversary of the
Salesian Presence in Vietnam. But at the beginning, my agenda was full up. So at
that time Fr. Luc van Looy came for the official
celebration.
Up until this moment I have been able to
visit most of the provinces of Italy-Middle East, those of Western, Northern
Europe, South Asia region, all the provinces of Africa except for three that I
will visit in October. In the East Asia-Oceania Region, all provinces had been
visited except Vietnam. You know why? Because as the Gospel says, the last is
the best! [applause].
It is! Very much so [True]. You are
not only the most fruitful province of the Region, at this moment you are the
most fruitful in the whole Congregation. And that means a lot for you. During
the last few years, through the generosity of the Vietnamese confreres, we were
able to send missionaries to different parts of the world. And these confreres
are doing very well .
It seems that the Vietnamese
confreres are capable in all kinds of fields, in all kinds of works, in all
kinds of contexts, because I have met Vietnamese confreres in Sudan, Africa.
They are doing very well. They are hard workers, they are always in the midst of
the young people, they are always available to serve, they are marvellous. I
have also met Vietnamese confreres in Italy, they are doing very well, for
example, in the Province of Liguria-Toscana. But even in Hungary, the Provincial
is very grateful to you. Due to you, due to these same Vietnamese missionaries,
it seems that the Salesian presence in Hungary is coming back into its own
again. They seem even to succeed in learning the Hungarian language. You know,
Hungarian is very difficult to learn, because it is a language so different from
Vietnamese. Even I could understand only a few words, like Jesus, Don Bosco,
Amen, Alleluia. They are doing so well also in Mongolia which is
entrusted to Vietnam. The Catholic Church is growing, the number of Christians
is growing. The Holy See, the Holy Father is very happy. The Holy Father had
wanted to visit Mongolia on the way to Moscow but his trip to Moscow was
cancelled, hence, there was no visit to Mongolia.
Vietnamese missionary confreres are doing so well that we are preparing two
Brothers to work in the Polyglot Press at the Vatican where all the books
written by the Holy Father and all the documents of the Holy See are
published. So at this moment, you are really presenting a marvellous gift
to God, to all of us, to the whole Congregation. The presence of Vietnam is
representing the most consistent presence in the whole congregation. It is not
difficult to see the number of the novices, the number of the newly professed
members, and the perseverance rate among the confreres is the highest percentage
in the whole Congregation. So, I am very grateful to God, and on behalf of Don
Bosco, the Congregation, I would like to thank Fr. Provincial, and all the
confreres. You deserve all our gratitude and our
congratulations. During
my visit, I would like to remind you the mind of Don Bosco. Don Bosco is always
smiling because he was full of joy in his heart. He wanted the young people to
be happy. Salesians are always empathetic. Young people always need to feel the
youthful and loving empathy of the Salesians. If your face is sad, the people
are not close to you. Like Don Bosco, I can tell you that I love you very
much that I always pray for you. And I am still expecting a lot from this
province. At the same time, I am bringing to you the mind of Don Bosco, with
great conviction, with great inspiration, with great hope, these are the most
important, now. Everything could be summarized in the last letter of convocation
of General Chapter 26: The Salesian are called to awaken their heart with the
fire, the passion of Da Mihi Animas, Cetera Tolle of Don Bosco. So
I am here to enlighten your mind and to set fire in your heart. Everything is
not only to strengthen the charismatic identity, but at the same time, to heat
our heart with the passion of Don Bosco, for the salvation of the youth. I
hope that during these days, in different talks, in different meetings, I will
be able to communicate all these things.
The visit happens in a very happy
circumstance, the Octave of Easter, the most important days and season of the
Year, it is the day of victory of the Lord. It is the moment we can say that we
are free because even death has been overcome. That means the source of the
whole Christian life and Salesain life, because our mission's main task is to
bear witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, to bring the joy and the
newness of life of resurrection, especially to the poor, the abandoned, the
youth at risk. So, [I wish] the best for the Province during this best
Season.
_________________
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