On the second Sunday of Advent, 5 December, five Vietnamese Jesuits – three priests and two brothers – professed their Final Vows in a Mass presided by Vietnamese Provincial Fr Vincent Pham Van Mam SJ in the chapel of Saint Joseph Jesuit Scholasticate in Ho Chi Minh.
The five Jesuits were Fr Joseph Do Cao Bang SJ, Fr Joseph Vu Uyen Thi SJ, Fr Barnabas Vu Minh Tri SJ, Br Joseph Dinh Viet Hung SJ, and Br Joseph Duong Minh Quan SJ.
The profession of Final Vows is the culmination of the formal formation period of a Jesuit. It happens after completing Tertianship, and subject to the approval of his provincial and the Jesuit superior general. According to the Constitutions of The Society of Jesus, the Jesuit called to make Final Vows is one “whose life is well-known through long and thorough probations,… exercising [himself] in spiritual and corporal pursuits which can engender in [him] greater humility, abnegation of all sensual love and will and judgment of [his] own, and also greater knowledge and love of God our Lord” (The Constitutions of The Society of Jesus, No. 516).
In the homily, Fr Barnabas Vu Minh Tri connected the spirit of Advent with the important event of being fully integrated into the Order of the Jesuits. He shared the joys and sorrows, the difficulties and encouragement of following God, which is a journey of transforming oneself to be better every day. Like the invitation of John the Baptist in the Gospel, each Jesuit, especially those making their Final Vows, is called to change and convert himself every day. Such is the example of St Ignatius, whose conversion 500 years ago the global Society of Jesus celebrates today. Only by such radical conversion can a Jesuit come to God and be able to introduce God to others.
At the end of the Mass, Fr Mam congratulated the priests and brothers who pronounced their Final Vows. He thanked their relatives and benefactors, and all the Jesuits in Vietnam for joining in prayer.
A simple gathering followed at the refectory of St Joseph Jesuit Scholasticate, where the Jesuit communities congratulated the five Jesuits, and gave them meaningful gifts. [Vincent Nguyễn Hoàng Vũ SJ/Vietnamese Province]
