In a spirit of gratitude for the grace of twenty years of presence and development of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual in Vietnam, the Provincial Custody of St. Francis Anthony Fasani in Vietnam joyfully hosted the Ministers Provincial, Custodes, Delegates and Directors of Missions of the Federation of Asian Minor Conventuals (FAMC), as well as some other friars from different Provinces around the world. The participants shared in the fraternal atmosphere, helped organize the FAMC meeting and joined the thanksgiving celebrations of the Custody.
On July 22-26, 2024, all the leaders of the Jurisdictions of the FAMC Federation attended the annual meeting. Those participating in the meeting and the thanksgiving celebrations included Friar Jan MACIEJOWSKI, the Vicar General; Friar Benedetto Seung-jae BAEK, the Assistant General for the FAMC Federation, and Friar Michael Litto Jose EARALY, a FAMC representative. The atmosphere during the FAMC meeting helped the young friars of Vietnam experience the unity and fraternity of Conventual Franciscan spirituality.
On July 27, a Mass of Profession was celebrated at the Đồng Quang Church in the Archdiocese of Sài Gòn. During the Mass, eight novices professed their first vows and two friars professed their solemn vows. At the same Mass, the friars gave thanks for twenty years of Conventual Franciscan presence in Vietnam. Friar Joseph TRẦN (Văn Long), the Provincial Custos, presided over the Mass. Our Conventual Franciscan priests concelebrated along with priests from the diocese and other congregations. Also present at the Mass were men and women religious, the families of the newly professed, and benefactors who have been supporting the Custody for the past twenty years.
On July 28, all of the friars, including the foreign friars who were still in the Custody, went on an outing to one of the beaches in Vũng Tàu City. This gave the Vietnamese friars an opportunity to talk more with the international friars who had come to Vietnam for this occasion.
On July 29-30, all of the members of the Custody gathered at the St Anthony Friary in Hồ Chí Minh City to attend a seminar on “Franciscan Missionaries” presented by Friar Dariusz MAZUREK, the Secretary General for Mission Animation. Friar Dariusz introduced the young Vietnamese friars to the missionary spirit that is part of the identity of the Church and the Order. He talked about the Conventual Franciscan missionary approach and showed lively videos featuring our missions around the world. The seminar ended with an interesting question and answer session.
On August 2, the Custody admitted four new novices to the novitiate. Friar Joseph TRẦN (Văn Long) presided over the Mass in which they were vested in the habit. The concelebrants included Friar Bernhard LANG, the Provincial Custos of Austria-Switzerland, who gave the homily; Friar Dariusz MAZUREK, priests of the Custody and some seminarians.
On August 5, four postulants were admitted to the postulancy program housed at the Annunciation Friary in Hồ Chí Minh City―bringing the number of postulants up to eight.
The past twenty years have been a journey filled with God’s grace and blessings upon the Provincial Custody. These blessings have been made concrete through the prayers and support of many friars and many Jurisdictions in the Order. We would like to express our deep gratitude to all. Please continue to keep us in your prayers.
Friar Joseph NGUYỄN (Chính Luận), Custodial Secretary
