“I have called you friends” _ Jn 15, 15
SJVN 31.05.2019 – After finishing their two years in formation at the Jesuit Novitiate, fourteen novices of Vietnam Jesuit Province took first vows of poverty, chastity and obedience at the Jesuit parish - Hien linh church in Ho Chi Minh city.
The newly vowed men finished their two years in the novitiate in which they prepared to become truly Jesuits by learning about the Jesuit's way of proceeding. Beside making the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola, in their first-year-novitiate, which is a month-long silent retreat, the novices also engaged in a variety of experiments, including working among laborers, serving in hospital, …
The novices who have just spent two years at the novitiate for the first stage of Jesuit formation, culminating in first vows — a public profession of commitment to the Society of Jesus are:
- Francis Xavier Phạm Quang Duẩn: born in 1989, Thái Bình Diocese.
- Dominic Hoàng Quốc Dũng: born in 1991, Phú Cường Diocese.
- Peter Nguyễn Nguyên Dương: born in 1990, Quy Nhơn Diocese.
- Anthony Nguyễn Phượng Hoàng: born in 1989, Buôn Mê Thuột Diocese.
- Thomas Aquinas Trần Bá Nhật: born in 1990, Thái Bình Diocese.
- Peter Nguyễn Thanh Phương: born in 1991, Vinh Diocese.
- Micae Nguyễn Minh Tâm: born in 1988, Hà Tĩnh Diocese.
- John Bosco Hoàng Nhật Tài: born in 1993, Buôn Mê Thuột Diocese.
- Dominic Nguyễn Văn Tài: born in 1993, Thái Bình Diocese.
- Paul Đào Văn Tuấn Thành: born in 1986, Buôn Mê Thuột Diocese.
- Joseph Nguyễn Văn Tiến: born in 1993, Thái Bình Diocese.
- Vincent Hoàng Văn Toàn: born in 1992, Bùi Chu Diocese.
- Joseph Nguyễn Văn Tuấn: born in 1992, Bùi Chu Diocese.
- Peter Đặng Đình Tùng: born in 1993, Buôn Mê Thuột Diocese.
Presiding the first vows Mass was father acting provincial, Andrew Pham Van Tu. Fr Nguyen Thai Son, Province treasurer, and Fr Pham Tuan Nghia, Rector of Saint Joseph Jesuit Scholasticate (SJJS) con-celebrated with Fr Nguyen Ngoc Kinh, director of Candidates and Fr Pham Minh Thang, who have just served as Novice Master for two months and many Jesuit and non-Jesuits priests who relate to the newly vowed men. There were also a lot of relatives attend the mass, Mary of the Visitation.
In his homily Fr Andrew reminded the Divine economy of Salvation in which God revealed his Love, Holiness, and Power. The responding to the Jesus’ call of new Jesuit Scholatics was regarded as recognizing God has being labored in their lives and invited them to continue His mission in the world. They should aware deeply that being called as Jesuits today is not because of worthy, but rely on God’ s Mercy absolutely. Therefore, they will profess their vows with God as following words: “though altogether most unworthy in Your divine sight, yet relying on Your infinite goodness and mercy and moved with a desire of serving You”.
Individually, each Jesuit novice took vows in front of the Eucharist, just as St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, and some of his first companions did. Then, each of them also received a vow-holy-crux and the constitutions of the Society by Fr Andrew that they will keep for the rest of their lives.
After the mass, Vietnam Jesuit province hosted a party for the novices, their families, friends and crowded guests and the many Jesuits around Thu Duc area who had come to witness the occasion.
Please pray for the newly vowed men as they begin the next stage of their formation as Jesuit scholastics in SJJS. May Almighty God grant them His grace to desire offering themselves to do the greater for God’ name. Amen.
Joseph Trần Ngọc Huynh, S.J.
