The Redemptorist Province of Vietnam celebrates 100 years of the arrival of the first Redemptorists in Vietnam. Three Redemptorists at the invitation of Cardinal Von Rossum, Fr. Hubert Cousineau, Fr. Eugène Larouche, and Br. Thomas Saint Pierre from the Canadian Province of Sainte Anne on 9 November 1925 after a long journey, arrived in Huế on 30 November of the same year. That journey marked the beginning of the Redemptorist presence here in Vietnam and from that humble beginning and through the last 100 years the Redemptorist mission has thrived here in the land of Vietnam. Today the Province of Vietnam has 390 Redemptorists, 279 Priests, 21 Brothers and 12 deacons, and 78 Clerical students.
The Celebration of Thanksgiving had very special significance with the presence of Fr Rogerio Gomes, C.Ss.R., Superior General, Fr. Joseph Ivel Mendanha, C.Ss.R. and Fr. Paul Vinh, C.Ss.R. Consultors General, Fr. Yoakim Ndelo C.Ss.R. Conference Coordinator of Asia Oceania and the Provincials, Vice Provincials, Regional Superiors and delegates of each unit of the Conference. They were all attending the Mid-sexennial Meeting of the Conference of Asia Oceania and the Conference Assembly. There were also present the Provincial of Canada, Fr. Santo Arrigo, C.Ss.R, Fr. Dominic Long, the Vice Provincial of the Vice Province of Extra Patriam (Vietnamese in the USA), other confreres from some of the provinces of Asia Oceania and Archbishop Marco Tin Win of Mandalay in Myanmar where the Redemptorists of the Province of Vietnam are working on mission.
The celebrations began with a Concert of thanksgiving where the Aspirants, Postulants and Students of the St. Alphonsus Theologate presented songs of praise and worship and a well-acted out skit composed by the confreres and students. A short documentary on the history of the Province of Vietnam was also presented and Fr. Dominic Thong welcomed and thanked the entire gathering emphasising the purpose of the concert as a time of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord for the graces received and also the call to keep living in union with the Lord, with one another and the poor. Fr. General spoke to the gathering emphasising 5 words in the context of the 100 years of the presence of the Redemptorists in Vietnam. These are Dream, Horizon, Faith, Perseverance, and cry of the Poor and Abandoned. The concert ended with the confreres of Asia Oceania singing a song of praise and thanksgiving.
The highlight of the Celebration was a solemn high mass celebrated in the Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help with about 75 Redemptorists concelebrating with Fr. Superior General, Rogerio Gomes, C.Ss.R., presiding at the mass.
Fr. Rogerio during his homily in English which was translated in Vietnamese for the people emphasised the following points: “The celebration of the Province’s centenary is a moment of deep thanksgiving and renewed missionary commitment. However, it is also a fitting occasion to look to the future with hope. What will be the evangelizing contribution of the Province for the next hundred years? How can we rekindle the enthusiasm of the confreres, so that they may persevere with fidelity and zeal in the missionary endeavour? How can we encourage the formandi to embrace their vocation with maturity, inner freedom, and openness to the Lord’s call? Which dimensions of the Province’s apostolic life need to be strengthened for greater missionary fruitfulness? And how can the Province collaborate more effectively with the entire Congregation through missionary solidarity? These questions may serve as points of discernment, illuminating the Province’s path with enthusiasm and courage, in a creative and grateful response to the Holy Spirit, who continues to inspire life and mission in the land of Vietnam.
The Provincial of the Province of Vietnam, Fr. Dominic Thong, C,Ss,R., then thanked Fr. General and all the confreres present and the people for making this celebration of Thanksgiving memorable and special by their presence. He gave thanks to the Lord and sought the grace of the Redeemer that the Province of Vietnam will continue to grow in the spirit of Missionaries of Hope in the footsteps of the Redeemer. The evening concluded with a celebratory dinner and joyful singing with the seminarians and confreres and participants for the Asia Oceania Mid Sexennial Meeting singing in their different languages in thanks and praise of the Lord.
Fr. Joseph Ivel Mendanha, C.Ss.R.
General Consultor
