On the morning of 31 July, 14 novices of the Vietnamese Province pronounced their First Vows at Hiển Linh Parish Church in Thu Duc, Ho Chi Minh City. Celebrating this vow ceremony on the feast day of their founder, St Ignatius, carries special significance for the Society. It was not only an occasion to give thanks to God for the gift of vocation but also a reminder to every Jesuit of his identity as a Companion of Jesus, one who continually seeks and carries out God’s will in all things, according to the Ignatian charism.
The Mass was presided over by Vietnamese Provincial Fr Joseph Phạm Tuấn Nghĩa SJ and concelebrated by some 60 priests from within and outside the Society and attended by religious, benefactors, family members, and a large gathering of the faithful.
In his homily, Father Provincial invited the community to reflect on the Gospel passage from Luke (Lk 14:28–32), in which Jesus offers two images: a man who wishes to build a tower must first sit down and calculate the cost lest he lay the foundation and then be unable to finish, becoming a laughingstock; and a king, who, before going to war, must consider whether his 10,000 troops can withstand an enemy advancing with 20,000. From these two parables, Jesus concludes that whoever wishes to be his disciple must renounce all he has.
Fr Nghĩa likened this prudence and careful deliberation to the grace of spiritual discernment, so essential for anyone seeking to follow Christ decisively and to let go of all things. He emphasised, “Following Jesus Christ is not a decision made on impulse but a choice that has been illumined and refined through fire. It is a choice made within an atmosphere of discernment marked by prayer, truth, and humility; and to discern rightly, we must first know where we stand before God.”
The 14 novices pronounced perpetual vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience before the Blessed Sacrament, with a promise to enter and remain in the Society for life (cf Constitutions of the Society of Jesus, no 540). The newly professed now enter a new stage of formation, the Juniorate, to prepare them for their future apostolic mission.
At the conclusion of the Mass, the community shared in the joy of the newly professed over a warm breakfast reception on the grounds of the religious house. On this occasion, the province also expressed its gratitude to the families, benefactors, and friends who have faithfully accompanied, prayed for, and generously supported the work of vocational formation. The province asks all to continue praying that the newly professed may remain faithful to the vows they have pronounced and generously commit themselves to the mission of serving God and their neighbour. [Công Trình SJ]
