Tam Ha (Vietnam). On October 13, 2019, feast of Our Lady of Fatima, the Provincial Community of Tam Ha, Vietnam, hosted the formation meeting for the young women of the PAG (Period of Assessment and Guidance), joined by 3 communities: Assumption, St. John Bosco, and St. Mary Mazzarello of Mary Help of Christians Province (VTN).
Upon their arrival, they were welcomed by the Provincial, Sr. Rosa Vu Thi Kim Lien, and by Sr. Teresa Nguyen Kim Lien, referent for formation, and by the sisters of St. Joseph Provincial Community. There they experienced an atmosphere of affection, family, and sisterliness that was a sign of the love the Institute has for each one of them. They spent the day together, praying, singing, dancing in joy and fraternity.
With her opening words, the Provincial imbued them with a lively sense of belonging to the Institute, the desire to live their experience wholeheartedly, ready to share and receive all the indications, counsels, suggestions useful for going ahead happily in their vocation and living it with joy. Then Sr. Maria Dang Lan shared her reflections on the theme: “First essential signs of the FMA vocation”. In addition to receiving increased knowledge, they had the opportunity to form sharing groups on their life experiences and the difficulties of the vocational journey. Through reflection, they became more aware of their vocation and more motivated to live consecrated life and to persevere in daily life, as Don Bosco taught: obey in the little things; do not be saddened at receiving a correction, have a spirit of sacrifice, of self-renunciation. This will help you to follow Jesus more and more each day.
In the time for dialogue, the Provincial and the sisters were ready to respond to their questions. They shared precious experiences of consecrated life and strengthened the call to commit themselves to walk in daily holiness.
As a close to this very meaningful encounter, they took up their journey to return to their community with a joyful heart and with the desire to increase their commitment to their own personal formation to be able to serve God in the Salesian educational mission.
