Tam Ha (Vietnam). On 4 August 2022, in Tam Ha, at the Provincial House, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of Mary Help of Christians Province celebrated the Holy Mass of the First Religious Profession of twenty-one Novices and the 150th Anniversary of the FMA Institute with the families of the candidates.
“Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the Lord for endless days“ (Ps 23: 6) was the motto chosen by the young women.
The Eucharistic Celebration was presided over by Fr. Barnaba Le An Phong, Provincial of the Salesians of Don Bosco of St. John Bosco Province (VIE) who in his homily said to the young women, “When religious vows are pronounced, one lives a new relationship with God and you do everything as a religious. The vows transform you radically into Christ, giving you a new heart to glorify God.” He then invited the FMA and the candidates to remember, “I am an instrument in the hands of God, and I train myself to be always available to God.”
After the homily, the Rite of Religious Profession took place. In the presence of the assembly, the candidates publicly made the vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience for one year, according to the evangelical path traced out by the Constitutions of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. The Professed then received the Constitutions of the FMA Institute and the Crucifix.
On behalf of Mother General, the Provincial, Sr. Maria Hoang Thi Thu Ha, expressed her welcome to each professed into the FMA Institute.
At the conclusion of the Celebration, in the name of the whole Province, Sr. Maria thanked the priests, religious, and the FMA community present. In particular, she thanked the parents for the generous offering of their daughters to the Institute.
The FMA Institute has developed over 150 years through the grace of God and the maternal hands of Mary. Sr. Maria then asked everyone to continue praying for the Institute, for the holiness of the Sisters, and for the mission among poor and disadvantaged young people.
To the New-Professed, together with the prayer for their journey of holiness, was the wish that the experience of “being loved and transformed by God, guarded and cared for” will always be the motivation that sustains and accompanies them in offering their life and service in the mission according to the Salesian Charism.
