Annual Report, MSC Vietnam, 2020
Looking back last year, 2020, a year of worry, scare, stun and death, everyone in the world is still being stunned by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Although the people know how it is and have some tests of antivirus or vaccine for people, but until now we’ve still not controlled it yet or had any effective treatment because of its fast spreading and danger. From time to time, it can be variant to another type, more dangerous. This disastrous virus affects all people in the world and brings about serious consequences in economy, relationship, religious practices, etc.
On 23 January 2020, the first known case of COVID-19 in Vietnam was reported. As of 11 January 2021, the country had 1,515 confirmed cases, 1,361 recoveries, and 35 deaths. More than 1.39 million tests have been performed. Da Nang, as of January is the most-affected city with 414 confirmed cases and 31 deaths.
Vietnam has suspended the entry of all foreigners from 22 March 2020 until further notice to limit the spread of COVID-19. The measure will not apply to diplomats, officials, foreign investors, experts, and skilled workers. For foreigners that entered the country before 1 March including those with temporary residence permits will also be entitled to extensions till 30 June but must present health declarations.
Vietnam is cited by global media as having one of the best-organized epidemic control programs in the world, along the lines of other highlights such as Taiwan and South Korea. Despite inferior economic and technological capacity, the country's response to the outbreak has received widespread international acclaim for its immediacy, and effectiveness.
Therefore, in this annual report, I would like to summarize all significant events of MSC community in Vietnam into 2 parts:
The first one is events before January, 23, 2020:
The first event was welcoming mass of pre-novitiate house for one new postulant, which was organized on the first of January at Pre-novitiate house.
The second one was on January, 11th, 2020, we had a very important event, Reception of new postulant and Sending Off of the five incoming novices.
The celebration was held in the HOP AN parish with the present of MSC Fathers and brothers, MSC sisters, OLSH sisters, Aspirants and LAY associates, family members of the 6 candidates and some benefactors.
Fr. HOANG NGUYEN is the celebrant together with Fr. Chris Mc Phee, our Provincial; Fr. KHOI NGUYEN, MSC; and Our MSC priest and some Priests, friend of our candidates.
In this occasion, we also celebrated the Tet celebration for Lunar New Year and farewell to Fr. Andrew for his new mission. Fr. Chris McPhee gave some lucky charm to everyone as our Vietnamese tradition in TET holiday. After some days of this celebration, the five flew to Phillipines and Fr. Andrew flew back to his province in Indonesia.
The third one was Continuing Formation Gathering that happened in Australia. Hoàng, Hưng, Minh and Quang flew there. THE CONTINUING FORMATION GATHERING of MSCs in first years of ministry was taken place at Douglas Park, from Feb 17th – 21st, 2020. This is the first time that the gathering includes young MSCs from Australia, India and VietNam. What a such beautiful and memorable gathering! We spent time on sharing about our life stories, about our journey of greeting to know MSC (vocation story), about our cultures, background of religion, of family, and of government; TABOO; planning for next year… It happened in the spirit of listening, understanding and accepting the differences. We also had a precious time of praying, sharing, playing, eating, drinking…, having fun together, and to be inspired by one another.
Thanks for this gathering, because all of members of this gathering love it very much as I have sensed. We feel a strong sense of belonging and being in the community. This such gathering really refreshes and encourages us moving on with trust and confidence. It enhances the sense of being a missionary for everyone and everywhere. We work and share the same mission of the universal MSC.
The second part was after January, 23, 2020:
The first event in this stage was reception of Pre-Postulants on the 1st of June.
We had three candidates: one for late vocation, the two for initial formation. They will have six months to focus on theirs English skills as well as to experience MSC community life. Three of them come from different background and life style.
Vu is a city boy with a long time working as a doctor and an ex-Jesuit seminarian.
Thang is a doctor with 2 years experiences and a former CMF aspirant.
Khanh is a mechanist and had few year accompanying with MSC aspirants.
August is a big month for our MSC community in Vietnam.
The Feast of the Sacred Heart, June 19.
Silver Jubilee of Ordination of Fr. Thời – September, 9, 2020.
On June, 19 and 20 we went to the house of Loving of the Cross of Chợ Quán Congregation in Long Hai, near the beach to celebrate two big events on these days. The first one was the Feast of the Sacred Heart on June, 19. The second one was the Silver Jubilee of Ordination of Fr. Thoi, which celebrated on June, 20.
The Feast of the Sacred Heart is always an opportunity for the Chevalier family. This is always a chance for fraternity, love, unity and understanding as well. This is a special day for us to reflect the meanings and qualities of the sacred Heart of Jesus Christ for us.
Because of some reasons from Covid - 19 pandemic, we celebrated Silver Jubilee of Ordination of Fr. Thoi in this day instead of Sep, 9. We joyfully and gratefully celebrated Fr. Thoi’s Silver Jubilee of Ordination with the presence of all members of Chevalier family, MSC students, some ex-MSCs and their family. We are blessed by his being and accompanying with us. He is really a precious gift for MSC, particularly for us in Vietnam.
Investiture: Five Vietnamese postulants have been invested with the religious habit of the Missionaries of the Sacred as they started their Novitiate Formation in Philippines – August, 1.
First profession: 4 Vietnamese novices took first profession on August, 6 in Philippines.
Lector: Duong Duc Nguyen and Thanh Vu Nguyen – August, 14
Acolyte: Quy Thien Bui and Tinh Dao Anh – August, 14
Renewal of vows: Tien Minh Nguyen – August, 14
Perpeptual Profession: Hung Quoc Le – Ausgust 15
Deaconate: Thi Dinh Nguyen and Bang Hai Dinh – August 21. The presider was bishop Joseph Nguyen Tan Tuoc of Phu Cuong Diocese together with MSC priests and fr. Joseph Luc of the diocese as concelebrants. Some OLSHs and MSC sisters were also with us
On Dec, 8, we celebrated 166 years of MSC Foudation Day. Our celebration was at Le Van Sy house (house of MSC scholastics) with all MSC Vietnamese members, one postulant, two OLSH sisters, and three MSC sisters. In this celebration, we had Mass together, and followed by Agape meal.
Big Day: October, 18
Every year, our community celebrates the Anniversary of the Death of our Founder on October, 21. We call it Big Day. October, 21 of last year is Wednesday. We couldn’t celebrate on that day because our brothers had classes. Therefore, we celebrated it on Saturday, October, 18.
We celebrated this Big Day at Phat Diem retirement home for diocesan old priests, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City with the presence of members of Chevalier family. First of all, we gathered for Mass. After that, we had some activities, games together and Agape meal was followed. One of the activities, sister Cherry, DOLSH, presented to all the history of three Congregations: MSC, DOLSH, MSC sister and Fr. Chevalier’ Charism and Spirituality in general. We also had a game of quizzes which regards to the life of our Founder.
25/12: MSC Family Gathering for Christmas Celebration
In the morning of December, 25, 2020, we, all members of three Congregations gathered at Pre-Novitiate house for Christmas celebration. We have Mass together at 10.Am, and followed by meal. Fr. Thoi was the homilist of this Eucharist celebration. He invited us to reflect and to experience the Incarnation of the Son of God, not only in Christmas celebration, but in our daily life, especially in the daily Mass when the Deacon, or the Priest, pours wine and a little water into the chalice, saying quietly: “By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity”. After that, we had the act of exchanging gift. For sure, everyone was so excited the most with this activity.
Some thoughts:
Looking back and reflecting on all significant events of a DISASTER year, but a year of gratefulness as well, 2020, firstly I see that we look like the Magi in the Epiphany’s Gospel. They follow the star to find the Child Jesus. They have no fear and have great hope. This is our spirit at the beginning of the year. Our celebrations were happy, joyful and grateful with all members of Vietnam Community and especially with the presence of our Provincial, Chris McPhee.
The star was still there. Our hope was strong in each of us with so many visions and plans for incoming months of the year. And then, the terrible virus has come, Covid – 19. It seemly brought us into the time darkness. Allow me call it “time of DISASTER”. In Greek: Disaster = Dis + Aster; Dis = not, aster = star; and in Italian: Disaster = Disastro means losing the trace of the star. It means that losing the trace of the star is a DISASTER. I see that it also coincides with the society, the world nowadays.
We have lived in a year of disaster of disease, misery and loss. We lost so many things. In our country in last year, disaster followed previous one. Meanwhile we have been fighting with Covid – 19, we have also faced with consecutive tropical storms at the central of Vietnam. Although we are safe from the good policy of preventing disease of the government, of the social community and our MSC community, but we are going to suffer about economy and for flooding. In that disaster, we lost the way, got into darkness in our life, and got many corollaries after that.
So, why the people understand the word “disaster = losing the trace of the star”. Maybe with the people of ancient times, there were some reasons. Every person is led by a star. It can be an ideal, value of life, good example of someone. One day, we lost this star, we do not know how to go or we do not know what is the next step for us? That is a darkness in life, in experience of living. In this situation, what did the Magi do? They went to Jerusalem. They found Herod in order to ask: where is the newborn King of the Jews? This is a good reminder. When we lost God, lost the light, what are we looking for? We find Herod. He symbolizes for power, fame, standing, jealousy, envy, self-centeredness. When we come to Herod, we don’t see the light of the star of God. That is sign of losing the star.
We were sometimes in darkness at this time, because in this disaster we were always in passiveness. We weren’t able to have mass and agape meal together. We lost our communication in face to face. We had online classes and retreat, etc. We lived in scare and stun. It seemed that all our plans that we made were cancelled.
Gradually, like the Magi, the star appeared to us again. We have found the way to make all our plans happened, but in the other ways that accorded with situation of quarantine.
Thank God very much for it, although we couldn’t still have celebration of priesthood ordination. Therefore, that is why I call last year, 2020, is a year of DISASTER and GRATEFULNESS. In darkness, God is always still there, among the world and in our heart and soul. He always finds the way for us to have His Star again. From that, I recognize that we have been blessed by God very much.
We are not only loved very much by God, but also by our confreres from Australia, Rome and other countries. Once we don’t lose hope; we trust in God; and we try our best to find God’s Star, with a great fidelity in seeking, we will bring Him glory as our Founder said: “The undertaking may appear foolhardy, but we have signs of God’s blessing. In so far as the arm of God remains with us, confidence is a duty. Our prayer is that the Divine Heart of Jesus may guard and protect the Society always. May he give us, as one of His favors, a great fidelity in seeking only what brings him glory.”
Jules Chevalier, 1866.
Written by Quang Vu Bui, MSC
