Greetings from Vietnam

April 10, 2018

Dear Members, Companions, Volunteers, and Friends,
Greetings from Vietnam where the only thing warmer than our welcome is the weather! The twelve-hour time difference from Kansas City presents a challenge — as we are winding down the day here you are just getting to work!
Brother Daryl has sent an article and some pictures from our celebration last Saturday when we welcomed four new incorporated members and two pledged candidates to our mission in Vietnam, but I wanted to share a few thoughts about the hope I see in our community here. I have met with each of our new members the past couple of days with the help of an interpreter as I am conducting an official visitation. I am inspired by the quality of their commitment, their energy and enthusiasm for mission, their deep understanding for the Precious Blood and their desire to serve the poor and the marginalized.
I am staying with Father Nhan Bui and our candidates at Xavier Formation House. Father Mike Goode is staying with Brother Daryl Charron and Father Tam Hoang at Gaspar House of Discernment which is near the airport and a considerable distance by bus from the formation house. Each morning at 5:00 AM, we gather for Morning Prayer and Mass. I have been celebrating Mass with the students in English and their ability to understand and speak English has improved dramatically since I visited three years ago. Brother Daryl has been teaching the candidates English since his arrival as director of the mission and his abilities as a teacher are clearly reflected in his students.
Living at Xavier House are two of our new members, Hoa Vu, who is completing his last year of preparation for the priesthood at the Dominican Center for Studies; and Ky Phung who is in his first year of studies at Redemptorist School of Theology. I met with each of them individually yesterday. Both are extremely talented young men — Hoa is an accomplished musician and Ky an artist. Their creative spirit and zeal are inspiring.
Today, I met with our other two newest members, Hao Pham and Diep Vu, who serve together at our mission in Tan Thanh, about four hours from Ho Chi Minh City near the Cambodian border. Hao completed his studies this past year and serves the parish at Tan Thanh in many ways, especially sacramental preparation. He is very involved in the life of the  parish as a catechist. Brother Diep Vu joins Brother Daryl as the only two brothers in the Kansas City Province/Vietnam Mission. As he described his ministry at Tan Thanh — from farming and gardening and construction to teaching catechism and taking communion to the sick and elderly in the parish — he is very active in the parish and local community. This expansion of our mission to Tan Thanh is another step in our evolving mission in Vietnam. I have an appointment with the bishop of the diocese in which Tan Thanh is located on Friday to discuss present and future possibilities for mission.
Our two new pledged candidates, Dung Nguyen and An Nguyen both live at Xavier House. Dung is in his second year studying Philosophy at the Dominican Center for Studies; An is in his first. Both are very hospitable, excellent cooks, and have a great spirit and enthusiasm for community and the mission. I have been very inspired by the spirit of prayer to which all of the candidates are very committed.
Our three initial formation candidates — Blir Ntor, Tinh Cao, and Khuong Nguyen — have certainly made an impression in the short time we’ve been here. Many of the pictures of the Incorporation ceremony you will see were taken by Khuong. Blir served as the Master of Ceremonies for the liturgy and Tinh was very involved behind the scenes. In these three young men, the future of our mission here beams brightly!
As the visitation continues for the rest of the week, I meet with two other members of our mission, Fathers Truc Vu and Loi Nguyen on Wednesday. Father Mike is doing well and is enjoying some of the sights with Brother Daryl as I meet with each of the members and candidates individually. Father Dien Truong, former director of the mission and now Director of Development is also here with us. Thank you for your prayers for our missionaries in Vietnam and all the people they serve. This is my third trip and my admiration and gratitude for the community and ministry here continues to deepen and grow!
With peace in the blood of Christ,
Joe Nassal, C.PP.S.

Vietnam Mission Celebration of New Members and Candidates

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by Br. Daryl Charron, C.PP.S., Vietnam Mission
“Chua khoi vong da cong duoi.” “Don’t celebrate until you are 100% sure there is a reason to do so.” This Vietnamese proverb says a lot about the culture. Vietnamese people celebrate special occasions well. The Vietnam Mission truly celebrated on April 7th when the number of its members went from five to nine. We welcomed Hoa Vincent Vu, Ky Joseph Phung, Hao Paul Pham, and Diep Joseph Vu into our Congregation. We also celebrated the Pledged Candidacy of An Martin Nguyen and Dung John Nguyen. The sisters of the Lasan Community hosted us at their convent in their newly restored chapel. It was a joyous occasion in which to celebrate the new life brought into our Vietnam Mission this Easter season.

“Con nuoc, con tat.” “While there’s life, there’s hope.” Our provincial, Fr. Joe Nassal, gave an inspirational homily focusing on the hope imbued in our new members and candidates as we move forward into our future. The chapel this day was completely full of the families and friends of our new members and candidates. We celebrated the generosity of the families of these young men as they gave to our Congregation missionaries for the ministry of the Church.
“Cay lanh sinh trai ngot.” “Good tree produces fruit.” This Vietnamese proverb reminds me of the words of our founder, St. Gaspar in his letter to Monsignor Bellisario Cristaldi as he spoke of the seminarians of his day. St. Gaspar said, “Inexpressible is my joy in seeing here in S. Felice a community so full of young ecclesiastics who, after having completed their work in the seminaries, are now preparing themselves as the hope of the Church. These are the new olive plants that surround the table, the altar; and God is glorified and blessed.” We have a similar sentiment today as we celebrate the “new fruit” brought to our Congregation – The Missionaries of the Precious Blood.

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Making Impressions

Saiveon and Branden begin their training


by Hector Avitia, Precious Blood Volunteer
During this Easter season we are celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus after being in the tomb for three days. At Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation (PBMR), we are also celebrating the return of the screen printing program, known as “Making Impressions.” This initiative is a great way for PBMR participants to learn a new skill, to express themselves through a different art medium, and for those outside of PBMR to give hope to the community.

The very first shirt from”Making Impressions”


“Making Impressions” is ready to make custom screen printed shirts for clubs and organizations. Coming soon, “Making Impressions” and PBMR apparel will be available for anyone to show their support for our ministry and for the youth of Back of the Yards. You can contact PBMR about the “Making Impressions” program by email at makingimpressions@pbmr.org.
 
 
 
 

Easter Reflections: April 17, 2018 Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter

by Rev. Augusto Menichelli, CPPS, Atlantic Province
Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty
The bread given by Moses to the people, in reality, was never given by Moses. It is a gift desired and decided by God because of a persistent murmuring against Aaron and Moses himself by the people of Israel. This bread served only for the body.
Being a daily prodigy, however, it should have strengthened faith in God the Savior and Liberator of his people, but soon it became a habit, and when something becomes a habit people can have two different reactions, get used to it and make it into a tradition or be bored of it and wanting to change it as soon as possible.
These are the two reactions that we, as Catholics, have to face in today’s church. We are never happy, no matter what we have and this is our greatest sin.
Jesus came to free us from sin shedding his blood on the cross. The same blood that we drink every time we celebrate the Eucharist in order to have true life.
Today Jesus announces himself as the living bread descended from Heaven. But he is also the living blood that comes from Heaven to give life to everybody. This means that whoever wants life must welcome him, receive him, eat and drink him, feed on him. If we do not feed on him, we fill our stomachs but not our souls. We can not compromise on these words of Jesus. They are of an absolute and universal truth. Who wants life, who wants not to be hungry and thirsty, must believe in him, welcome him, be satisfied with him. He is the only blood of life for the whole world.