Dalat delight at visit of the Rector Major - Don Pascual Chávez

DALAT: 13 April 2007 -- Over 100 Salesians of the Dalat area gathered in the Post-novitiate community to welcome the Rector Major and hear his message for the confreres. After the greeting and the presentation of the Salesian presence in the area provided by the Rector of the community, the Rector Major began by congratulating the Salesians for their meaningful and effective presence in the area. He offered the remark with reference to the historical significance of the Salesian Province of Vietnam, not only by sending missionaries but also for the renewal of the whole Congregation.

    The second part of his conference focused on the meaning of his circular letters which were written with a thorough plan: the Salesians are called to be holy by faithfully living their Consecrated Life, by contemplating Jesus Christ as viewed by Don Bosco, by learning to know Jesus better through the witness of the Scriptures, by reviving the apostolic zeal and faithfully living  their charismatic identity.

    The Eucharist celebration of the day was attended by different groups of the Salesian Family in the area. It was followed by lunch at which the local bishop and the clergy of the deanery participated. The bishop thanked the Salesians for their contribution to various ministries in the diocese. In reply, the Rector Major renewed the Salesians’ commitment to work for the local Church according to their specific mission.

    On return to Ho Chi Minh city , the Rector Major stopped by the Salesian community at Duc Huy which is serving a very active parish. This community of Duc Huy was one of those first communities which started the vocation ministry and the results are very encouraging: forty Salesians of the Province came from this ministry as well as twenty other diocesan priests. Many of these Salesians are serving as missionaries in different parts of the world. The Rector Major appeciated that contribution and expressed that this community has been like the Valdocco community as Don Bosco founded.