Also present during the celebration were Fr. Vincent Pham Van Mam, SJ, provincial of the Vietnam Jesuit Province, Fr. Joseph Pham Tuan Nghia, SJ, rector of SJJS, Fr. Enrico Eusebio SJ, Chair of the Commission on Affiliation of LST, Jesuits, superiors of non-Jesuit students, families and friends of the newly graduates.
The graduation was preceded by a thanksgiving mass presided by the Rector of SJJS. In his homily on Lk 17:11-19, Fr Paul Nguyen Thai Son, SJ, prefect of theological studies emphasized on the encounters: encounters between the Mercy and sinners, grace and belief, wisdom and blindness. He remarked that the intellectual formation must lead students to the encounter between minds and hearts. And from this starting point, their lives will become encounters of the disciples of Jesus with the wounded, the poor and those who are in need in the world.
Fr Joseph Pham Tuan Nghia, SJ grants STB degree to a newly graduate
The newly-graduated philosophers
In his address, Fr Joseph Pham Tuan Nghia, SJ, Rector of SJJS noted that this event is a milestone of SJJS. He also expressed his sincere gratitude to Fr. Adolfo Nicolas, SJ, and Fr. Aturo Sosa, SJ, former and current Generals of the Society of Jesus; Fr. Daniel Huang, SJ, Regional Assistant for Asia Pacific; LST Faculty and Staff, Fr. Joseph Pham Thanh Liem, SJ, former Provincial and those who were involved in the process of the affiliation between two institutions. Fr. Nghia emphasized that: “This close collaboration and friendship between St. Joseph Jesuit Scholasticate and Loyola School of Theology make us even more effective instruments of God in carrying out our mission of forming men and women in theology and pastoral ministry in order that they themselves may serve generously in any frontier they might be called to serve by Jesus Our Lord.” He also hoped that from 5 to 10 years later SJJS would be instituted as an ecclesiastical faculty by the Holy See.
The newly-graduated theologians
SJJS is a formation institution of the Vietnam Province of the Society of Jesus, in which philosophy and theology programs are offered for both Jesuits and non-Jesuits. With 27 Vietnamese professors (17 Jesuits and 10 non-Jesuits) and innumerable foreign professors in various fields, through its inculturated courses, programs and institutional and human resources, SJJS aims to educate its students in the faith, sustain personal theological growth, and assist in the effective empowerment of all who desire to serve the people of God by ministries in and of the Church. From this academic year, after the affiliation between SJJS and LST with the approval of the Congregation for Catholic Education, SJJS will organize admission to the STB for Jesuit scholastics, the religious of other congregations and lay people.
On behalf of SJJS, Fr. Paul Nguyen Thai Son, SJ gives a bouquet of flowers to thank Fr. Enrico Eusebio, SJ, the presentative of LST, Manila for his support to SJJS
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Contact Us St. Joseph Jesuit Scholasticate Address: 19 Street 5, Quarter 2, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Phone: +84-028-37204992 Website: www.sjjs.edu.vn Website: http://dongten.net/ (VIE) https://viejesuits.org (ENG) Vincent Tran Van Dinh, SJ
