Life of the Congregation (1)

“This congregation has completed all canonical requirements to be officially present and permitted for pastoral works in the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City. This communication from the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City (signed by the Episcopal Vicar for Consecrated Life, Fr. Thomas Vu Quang Trung SJ) gave the official signal of the Betharramite presence in Vietnam. This is a very important recognition.

Although our community is made up of a small number of religious, the Diocese of Ho Chi Minh judged that our charism was a wealth for the Vietnamese Church. Basically, that is the meaning of our presence in Vietnam. Our intention is not to found great works. We have come here, but not because we are short of vocations in Europe but because we are convinced that our charism is a benefit for the whole Church and that it should not be relegated to a limited area.

Even before Betharram was present in this country, our charism was welcomed by two young Vietnamese men: Joseph Tuan and Peter Do, who are currently scholastics in Sampran, Thailand.

Like a small seed in the furrow of Vietamese history, our presence has become a focus for vocations in a year and a half.

Several young people have already experienced a period of vocational discernment. Some of them are already members of our family: in addition to the two young people who live in Sampran, a third young man lives in our seminary in Mangalore (India). Another young man is going to leave for Mangalore soon. Others will soon be welcomed into the Betharramite community of Ho Chi Minh City.

Let us recall that this presence was only possible thanks to the “Here I am” of two young Betharramite religious: Father Yesudas Kuttappassery (India) and Fr. Albert Sa-at Prathansantiphong (Thailand). Their enthusiastic and resourceful spirit (characteristic of the beginnings of any mission) has supported them in the face of difficulties. They knew how to bring their faith and courage into action. Having witnessed their first steps in Vietnam, I can say that the Lord has blessed them and through them the whole Congregation.

Our presence was also made possible thanks to the Bishop of the Diocese of Thanh Hoa (Mgr Joseph Chi Linh) who, by putting at our disposal a part of the diocesan seminary in Ho Chi Minh City, gave us the opportunity to set up our presence benefiting from a very warm welcome.

Our presence has been possible thanks to many benefactors in Europe and Latin America who, sensitive to the Betharramite mission in Vietnam, have offered economic assistance to support the fledgling community.

Our presence was made possible by many Vietnamese Christian families who, after learning about the community, helped them to meet their daily needs, supplying food, money and liturgical furnishings. These families gave especially to our brothers the certainty of being surrounded by friends, even brothers and sisters.

Our presence was possible thanks to a Christian lady of Vietnamese origin. I would like to pay tribute to her for a moment. Mrs. Kieu-Dung Nguyrn has a beautiful house in the center of Ho Chi Minh City. From the United States, where she has lived for many years, she came to know through a Vietnamese priest friend (Father Dominic) that we were looking for a new residence for our small community. She quickly offered us her house without asking anything in return, except to live there and “take care of it”. Thus, in a very providential way, our community found its home for the next few years. Is it definitive? Maybe not. It will be necessary to examine further whether it will be possible to buy a property.
I like to think that what I have just related is the intertwining of the history of God with the history of the Congregation and to recall that if God’s plan is accepted in the will of men, nothing and no one can stop it. His providence will always accompany us.

The story continues, it is only in its beginnings... Others will tell more…

Graziano Sala scj

One year and a half in Vietnam

A new foundation is made of small steps. Our confreres, Frs Yesudas and Albert go over their first period in Vietnam.  After overcoming the first  administrative hurdles, Betharram is getting a foothold and settling down.

God’s providence continues... As I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam I had no idea about this new country and its culture. I had not known anyone, I did not speak the language; everything was new to me. People do not speak English and it was difficult to communicate and to express our needs. My problem was to find out how to get the visa for a long period. I tried to communicate the needs to the Vietnamese priests where I was living but to no avail; they said that it is difficult to get the long term visa for people coming from abroad; again I was discouraged. How is it possible for me to solve this problem? I remembered the words of Saint Michael Garicoïts: “forward always forward.”   It was God’s providence that I met Fr. Thomas Trung who is the episcopal vicar of the diocese. He said he did not know much about the visa but that there were priests from India living here for many years, and he introduced me to frs. Jerrin and Felix who belong to Guanellians. I contacted Fr. Jerrin who took me to a catholic visa agent and introduced me to him; they promised that they would get the visa for Fr Sa-at and myself. We submitted all the documents and after a couple of days we got the visa with work permit. We thank God for this wonderful work! It was God’s providence. As we started our community, we had 6 candidates from different parts of Vietnam. It was not easy to handle the situation but everything went on well although we had to face some problems and difficulties. Some interference in the formation made us think about changing the place. But where? Again God’s came to help us in the person of Fr. Dominic (Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament) and his friend, Mrs Kieu-Dung Nguyrn who lives in the USA. This lady is ready to give her house (for four years) for the formation of our young boys without paying any rent: we have only to take care of the house for her. All her family members in USA are happy about this. Fr. Dominic took the initiative to find some sponsors and have a small chapel in the house. People are very supportive and helpful. They are very happy to know about Betharram and its spirituality. At the end, with the help of some people we made a small chapel and some renovations.

Then in the presence of the Superior general, Fr Gaspar, and the Bursar General, Fr Graziano, and Fr. Thomas Trung we blessed the chapel and the house. The next step was to register our names in the local police station; once again God’s Providence helped us to overcome this hurdle: Fr. Dominic asked his friend, a lawyer, to come to our rescue. The lawyer, a catholic, was very happy to help. Through his friends in the police he managed to settle this matter. We experienced God’s Providence at every step. God always protects his people who walk in his footsteps. Many people now are coming forward to help us. We believe that God send his people to support us. Believe in the providence of God…

Yesudas Kuttappassery scj

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During this one and half years experience in Vietnam I felt like the baby practicing walking. But this walk is guided by the grace of God who has a plan for me. He provides everything for me through the project which the Congregation put in my hands, even though I didn’t agree with some details of the project: for example about receiving the candidates immediately. In my opinion for the first year I preferred to see, to learn, to live and to study the language and then start to receive the candidates. But through the present situation, I can understand the reality of life and the system of formation in Vietnam. I would like to summarize my experience in 6 dimensions.

The human dimension; What I learned and practiced in my formation years, I continue in my daily life as a priest here. Of course, I have to do more than my seminarian life, I have to be an example for the candidates, I have to learn from the priests, from the religious, from the candidates and from the people in Vietnam. This is what I have been trying in this period in Vietnam.

The spiritual dimension; every day, I pray and ask God to give me a conscience to live, to listen, to do and to speak. I always believe that if I do the will of God, He will do everything for me; I only try my best. And God provides everything to me through different groups of people in Vietnam and from others places.

The community dimension; this is the big challenge for me: to teach the candidates how to live the community life. The community life is to accept the differences of the people, of culture and the background, of the family.

The intellectual dimension; before teaching others how to do something I have to practice it myself. It is a great time for me to learn the language, the culture, the life style and what are the real and important needs in my religious life.
The missionary dimension; One and half year is the time for me to see, to listen and to learn. I will try to open myself to God and to people.

The cultural and social dimension; I like the Vietnamese culture and the life style. Vietnamese people are very friendly. They give great respect to the priests and they are very active in their faith. But as a Betharramite I have to bring the charism of the congregation to Vietnamese culture. Of course the culture is very important but not all the aspects of the culture is appropriate for the religious life.

I would like to thank God for providing everything for me. Thanks to Mgr Joseph Nguyen Chin Linh Archbishop of Hue and Thanh Hoa, thanks to all the fathers and brothers in the center of Thanh Hoa in Saigon; a special thanks to Mary Nguyen Thi Kieu Dung the owner of the house where we are living now; thanks to Fr. Dominic, a person who provided this new house for us; thanks to different benefactors and to all those who help us in different ways here in Vietnam.

Please continue to keep us in your prayer. Cam on (Thank you)

Albert Sa-at Prathansantiphong scj