An unexpected addition to the MSC Melbourne community

In these covid days, it has become very difficult for overseas students to come to Australia.  This has meant that Tran Van Long is doing a pre-novitiate experience from home in North Vietnam. He is studying English online through the Yarra Theological Union and its ELSPM, English Language Studies for Pastoral Ministry.

He introduces himself with his short bio for ELSPM

Name: Van Long Tran                                                    Date 22 January 2021

I am Tran Van Long. I was born in 1988 and I’m single. I belong to MSC. I was born into a catholic family. My house is in Bao Long village, hamlet 11, My Ha commune, My Loc district, Nam Dinh province. I have finished University and  worked as a restaurant manager for a year. My family is 3 brothers, I am the second child. My brother and younger brother were married. I have 4 nephews and 2 nieces. My brother is a driver and younger brother is a worker. My sister-in -law works is a nurse and the sister-in-law is a teacher. My parents are farmers. My parish has 5 thousand people and there are 14 churches. Young people often work as workers in factories and old people are farmers.

I come from Nam Dinh which is a province in the North of Vietnam. The people in my hometwn are friendly, sociable and pious. The people live to love and help each other. I live in there are 4 seasons: spring, summer atumn and winter. It is winter now. This winter is colder.

The Melbourne community welcomes him – from a distance.