MSC Magazine | Issue 4 | Summer 2020

Page 16| Missionaries of the Sacred Heart A MAN THAT MOVES… Quy Tran, MSC. From Saigon to Rome After two years of working as an MSC vocation promoter in Vietnam, I was sent to Rome for my further studies. I arrived in Italy in September 2017, just before the General Chapter who elected Fr. Abzalon Tovar to be Superior General. I love the Word of God and I am fond of re- flecting upon it, so I chose to study biblical theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas which offers the STL program in Eng- lish. Although I am a student of the Angelicum, I go to the Biblicum library more often because there are a lot of wonderful books related to biblical studies there, and I enjoyed reading them so much. At weekends, I usually travelled around Rome and Italy to contemplate many magnificent ancient architectures of the churches and basili- cas, and at the same time I learnt more of the Italian people and their cultures. I will never forget my memories in the Eternal City. From Rome to Sydney Two years of biblical studies in Rome was quite hard but en- joyable for me. In February I flew back to my home country and spent two weeks staying with my family, visiting commu- nities and friends. It was so good to meet our loved ones in person, though we still get connected through the Internet nowadays. And then I had to say goodbye to Vietnam to continue my journey. I landed in Sydney in March and the pandemic broke out, then the lockdown took place after my arrival one week. I am now staying at Kenso parish with Fr. Alo Lamere who is a good and easygoing fellow. I celebrate daily Mass with De La Salle brothers, three days in their provin- cialate and four days in their retirement home named Kar- laminda, just across the street. Even though I get stuck here because of the Covid-19, I am so thankful to God that I am given time and space for relaxation and refreshment after the studies in Rome. I spend more time observing and reflecting on the human life, on the Church and the world. Through the pandemic, I realize many issues in the ecclesiological realm such as liturgy, catechism, clericalism, etc and also in the so- cial aspects regarding economics, politics, and environment. I find that there is always something good amidst the many bad things happening. There are new insights, new enlighten- ments, new hopes through the experience of the Wuhan-virus epidemic. I am looking forward to seeing a new pentecost that is dawning with a trusting heart. From Sydney to Suva The previous plan was that I would be assigned in a parish, but after some further consultations, I now have my new appointment as a biblical lecturer in the Pacific Regional Seminary (PRS) in Suva. Wow, out of nowhere Fiji appears into my life! I have never heard of Fiji before. It was a big surprise for me! I do not know if I can do much for the Pacific people, but I believe that, there is a divine call for me to go there, and for sure God will enable me to see God’s glory in the middle of Pacific Ocean, and I am in- vited to continue making God’s love known in those mission islands.