Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ho Chi Minh City (Agenzia Fides) – “I have come to visit you and I will remain with you”: this is the theme chosen by the Salesian Province in Vietnam to prepare for the visit of Don Bosco’s Casket in the extreme East. As reported by local sources to Fides, the pilgrimage of the Saint's casket received the approval of the Central Committee for Religion in Vietnam. The Salesian Province (the men religious, the Auxiliary Daughters of Mary who are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their presence in Vietnam, lay collaborators) thus organised the program to involve the entire Catholic community in the Country, through the circulation of benefits, Liturgical celebrations, Lectio Divina, and awareness meetings for young people in particular.
The remains arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on 16 January – from the Philippines – and were received by 100 youth who welcomed the relics with songs and dance, while an interminable queue of the faithful (more than 10,000) patiently waited in line to give homage to the Saint at the Salesian headquarters.
More than five thousand faithful took part in the celebration of Holy Mass with more than 30 Concelebrants. Fr Joseph Tran Hoa Hung, Salesian Provincial of Vietnam, emphasised that “the visit of Don Bosco is primarily a call to the young, and intends to reawaken their faith, hope and charity.”
The relics will visit the Dioceses of Ba Ria, Da Lat and Xuan Loc, before departing the Country on 1 February, the day after the solemn conclusion to the visit, the Feast of St John Bosco, 31 January.
The history of the Salesians in Vietnam commences in 1942, when the French Salesian Don Dupont was expelled from Japan and incorporated into the French army in Hanoi. He began a friendship with Father Seitz from the Paris Foreign Missions (MEP). The two founded an orphanage which hquickly became a type of “city of children”. Fr Seitz, then appointed as Bishop of Kontum, recalled Don Dupont and entrusted him with the work of the sons of Don Bosco. It was 3 October 1952. In short the city of children took on Salesian spirituality and became a professional school. From then on, despite various difficulties and breaks due to the history of Vietnam and to the restrictions of the Communist Government, the Salesians have grown and developed their presence. Currently there are 30 men religious native to Vietnam, working with Salesians of other nationalities. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 19/1/2011)
