In the joy of thanksgiving, at 9:00, am, March
7, 2020, in the Province of the Blessed Mary of the Holy
Spirit, Vietnam, celebrated the feast of St. John of God and the solemn profession of three brothers: Joseph Vu Van Dinh, Joseph Ngo Thach Chan and Joseph Nguyen Cong Van. Attending the celebration, At the meeting with the Congregation for the
Sisters and the students, there was the presence of Bishop John Do Van Ngan,
Auxiliary Bishop of Xuan Loc Diocese, Priests as well as numerous relatives,
benefactors, religious, and co-workers in the
hospitaller family.
At the beginning of the Mass, the
Reverend bishop welcomed all members who came to join in
the Eucharist of Thanksgiving, and also said thanks to the
parish priests for
always giving hands to support the province and allowing
brothers doing fundraising work in order to built up a nursing home for the poor patients
over the past two years. On the occasion of the feast of
Saint John of God and the solemn the profession of the three brothers today,
the bishop also invited the liturgical community to offer special
thanks to
the Lord and pray for the order especially for the
newly professed brothers today.
After reading the Gospel (Lk 10, 25-37),
Bishop John invited each of us to be merciful toward our brothers and sisters, how to recognize our neighbor, and the way
to find everlasting life. Samaritans are often despised, discriminated
against because they are pagans. But the way he
treated the victim showed in him an open heart, sensitivity, and
mercy. The Samaritan not only hears with the ears, looks with the eyes, but
feels with the heart, and follows the orders of the heart. Unlike the Priests,
the Lawyers, the Samaritans did everything to help the victim, did everything
with the guidance of a caring heart, so that he would take care of him and take responsibility for all costs afterward. It is
also a lesson for all of us, showing mercy and healing with a sense of
responsibility and to the end, both physically and spiritually. Thus, we are also once again recalled to renew our commitment, dedicate ourselves
freely for the
sick and the needy.
After the homily was the profession, 3 brothers said of
their commitment before God and the community to keep the four vows of:
Chastity, poverty, Obedience and Hospitality.
From now on with the solemn vows, they will totally offer themselves to God, to the Church
and the order in the service of the sick and needy in
the manner of our founder St. John Of God.
At the end of the Mass, brother Provincial
Joseph Vuong Hoai Duc on behalf of the Congregation expressed his gratitude to
the Bishop, priests, religious and the community for the communion in prayer and sharing joy with the order.
In the end, the bishop
presided over the blessing of the Holy See to those who attended this Mass on
the occasion of the feast of St. John Of God, according
to the privilege granted by the Church.
Let us join together on Thanksgiving to God
for giving the Church an example of heroic charity and for the Order to receive
the gift of hospitality. May those who are on the same mission of
serving the sick, especially the hospitaller
brothers and
the newly professed experience more profoundly the love of
the Lord that is pouring out in their dedicated life, to gain more
happiness and compassion by contemplating the mercy of God,
to give what has been received to those who suffer from illness in the mission
of hospitaller vocation today.
