Archbishop Joseph Vu Van Thien presided over the rite for some young men who are on their way to the priesthood, on the eve of World Vocation Day, which is celebrated today. Last Sunday the same Catholic Church in Hanoi had celebrated its Youth Day, and brought together 5,000 young people for the first time after Covid.
Hanoi () – “There is no vocation without a mission. And there is no happiness and full personal fulfillment without offering others the new life we have found. The divine call to love is an experience that cannot be silenced.” This is what Pope Francis wrote in his message for the 60th World Vocation Day, which is celebrated today in dioceses on all continents. “In the Church, we are all servants, according to the different vocations, charisms and ministries,” the Pope recalled, indicating that it is a perspective within a “vocational symphony” in which each one is related to the others. But one of the faces of this symphony certainly continues to be that of ordained ministers (deacons, priests, bishops) “placed at the service of the Word, of prayer and of the communion of the holy people of God”.
After years of great flourishing, even Asia -especially in some of its regions- is beginning to see the phenomenon of declining vocations to this type of ministry. For this reason, on this day, it is beautiful to highlight the news that comes from the Archdiocese of Hanoi, in the north of Vietnam, where -according to the diocese’s website- on Wednesday, April 26, Archbishop Joseph Vu Van Thien presided over in the cathedral the rite of ordination of eight new deacons who come from the major seminary of the archdiocese and who are on their way to the priesthood.
To the new deacons, Archbishop Van Thiên reminded them that the three degrees of the priesthood – the diaconate, the presbyterate and the episcopate – “are not titles or honors that indicate privilege, but constitute tasks in the service. You are called to serve to the Church and to his brothers and sisters”.
As was observed a few days ago during the presentation of Pope Francis’ message for World Vocation Day in the Vatican, there is a very close link between the vitality of youth ministry and the willingness to give one’s life totally to following Jesus. and at the service of the brothers. This is also confirmed by the testimony of the Archdiocese of Hanoi, where, precisely last Sunday, some 5,000 young people participated in the seventh Diocesan Youth Day. An appointment that took place after years of being forcibly suspended due to Covid-19.
The young people gathered for a day marked by the motto “Mary got up and left in haste”, which Pope Francis proposed in view of World Youth Day to be held this summer in Lisbon. Archbishop Joseph Vu Van Thiên spoke and answered his questions before the great Eucharistic celebration, which was followed by 30 minutes of silent adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The meeting ended with a performance in which young people from the seven pastoral areas of the archdiocese represented what it means for them to walk with Mary in their lives.
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