Two scholastics from Vietnam Pham Dinh Cu and Nguyen Thanh Hung are going to Thailand for their regency. Granted that they will be given visas, they are expected to be in Bangkok by July. They will be assigned to Xavier Hall Community and be fully engaged in Thai language studies.
On Oct. 7 Cosme Hoang Van Dat, SJ was ordained a bishop and installed as the ninth Bishop of the Diocese of Bac Ninh, Vietnam. The Principal Consecrator was Bishop Peter Nguyen Van Nhon of Dalat, the president of the Vietnam Conference of Catholic Bishops. Twenty-one bishops took part, including Cardinal Paul Joseph Pham Dinh Tung, retired Archbishop of Hanoi; hundreds of priests and religious and over ten thousand faithful joined the ceremony.
The scholastics have just finished one month experiment. They were divided into group two or three, and went to rural parishes of the North, Center and South of Vietnam. After each academic year, they have one-month experiment. This is an opportunity for them to experience the lives of the poor, to live with and serve the poor in teaching catechism and social service.
The office’s operations in Manila will be closed by the end of December 2008. Its services will continue to be rendered by the St. Alberto Hurtado Center for Pastoral and Social Service in Vietnam, with r Truong Thanh Tam (VIE) as the Director.
For those who are interested to know more about the Jesuits in Vietnam, you may look up http://www.dongten.net. The site uses the Vietnamese language only.
The Lekima typhoon on October 3 severely destroyed the center of Vietnam, especially Thanh Hoa, Ninh Binh, Sơn La, Quang Binh, Ha Tĩnh, and Nghe An. Damage was initially estimated to be over USD60 million. About 86 people died. Vietnamese Jesuits organized a campaign to provide relief to the victims. Fr Tam and Sch Thong are collaborating with the bishops of Thanh Hoa and Vinh dioceses to provide the victims food and support in rebuilding their lives.
July 14, 2007 was a day of grace for the Vietnamese Jesuits, and also for more than 2,000 guests invited to come to Hien Linh Church’s front yard to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Return of the Jesuits to Vietnam. On this day, the Independent Region of Vietnam also became a Province.
Fr Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, SJ, Superior General of the Society of Jesus, gave this message of gratitude last July 14, 2007 on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the Jesuits’ return to serve the Church of Vietnam.
Your Eminence,
Your Excellencies,
Representatives of various levels of the Civil Authorities,
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Dear Friends:
The Jesuits of Vietnam Region will celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the return of the Jesuits to Vietnam (1975-2007) and the establishment of the Vietnam Province on July 14.
Together in remembrance of the feast of St Ignatius, a thanksgiving mass will be held in Hien Linh (Epiphany) Parish Church, Thu Duc, Ho Chi Minh. It will be presided by Cardinal J.B. Pham Minh Man, Archbishop of Ho Chi Minh Diocese.