(GATCVN) at 5:00 am on Friday, April 24, 2020, in the Chapel of Province Of The Blessed Mary Of The Holy Spirit - Vietnam held a celebration of the feast of Saint Benedict Menni and the renewal of vows of six brothers: Dominic Ho Ngoc Trang, Martin Nguyen Trung Dung, Joseph Nguyen Van Linh, John B. Bui Quoc Toan, Vincent Nguyen Van Hien, and brother Joseph Tran Binh Son.

The Mass was officiated by Fr. Anthony Nguyen Chan Hong, First Provincial Counsel. At the time of the Eucharist, there was the presence of the brothers from the Provincial community as well as brothers from Tan Bien community. Unlike usual, this is the first time the Mass has celebrated without the participation of patients and parishioners, due to limitations imposed by social distance and community isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the presence of Brothers and before brother Provincial Joseph Vuong Hoai Duc, the 6 temporary professed brothers renewed the vows of Chastity, Poverty, Obedience, and Hospitality in serving the poor and the sick for one year, according to Saint Augustine’s Ruler and the Order’s Constitutions.

At the same time in the chapel of St. Riccardo Pampuri, in the Philippines Delegation, brother Paul Nguyen Phi also renewed his vows before Bro. Fermin O. Paniza, on behalf of Bro. Provincial Vuong Hoai Duc.

Being a disciple is a commitment to witness to the joy of the Resurrection, even we are experiencing anxiety and bewilderment of the disease recently. Like the story of two disciples on the road to Emmaus, the Gospel of the Resurrection set their hearts on fire. Their sorrowful had vanished, giving way to joy and hope. "They set out that instant and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven assembled together with their companions". (Lk 24:33).

In the meantime, people are facing crises, confusion, disagreements, and suffering from illness and death because of the covid-19 pandemic that is raging all over the world. It seems like we are losers, helpless before the destructive power of a dangerous virus. Because of that, our plans and even our lives are put in danger. As a disciple of Jesus, through our vocation of hospitality, how much more must we live with hope and spread that hope to a world of confusion and suffering?

Continuing to commit ourselves to the vocation of hospitality is a response of the good Samaritan, as our General Superior Jesús Etayo reminded us in his recent letters to the Order regarding the Covid-19 pandemic, that: “We are very proud of you because once again you are making the charism and mission of Hospitality shine bright, beyond any speeches and words: with your commitment, often pushed to extremes, with your smile when you do not feel like smiling, with your continued search for resources, as good Samaritans, as new John of God, increasing in number for the sake of the suffering, the fearful, terrified elderly people and apprehensive young men and women. For the sick, you are the Archangel Raphael bringing them comfort, the love of God, tenderness, and humanity... and you also show us that our Lord does not forget us and that we, therefore, have good grounds for hope and trust that this battle will be won”.

Let us, therefore, continue to put our faith in the risen Christ, who continues to invite us to practice the way of hospitality, as the most appropriate and effective response that we can do for suffering and death. We continue to bear witness to hospitality, for the benefit of the sick and the needy, for the Church and the world as we have done through the history of the order.

At the feast of Saint Benedict Menni, may He intercede for us who are walking on the path of the hospitality vocation the grace of God before the trials and attachment to God through a life of prayer, humility and patient as St. Benedict Menni once said: "Give your life to the poor, the more sick they become, the more vivid images of Christ are shown, our Saviour; and "Let us always tell the Lord: I am poor and miserable, full of sins and imperfections. I offer this poor heart to God so that I can refine it ”.