Vietnam Mission
Br . Daryl Charron ( center ) and candidates in Vietnam
Missionary Life in Vietnam by Br . Daryl Charron , c . pp . s ., Vietnam Mission Director
Profile of the Missionary of the Precious Blood helps prospective candidates discern their call to our Congregation . It lists the qualities of a Precious Blood missionary and serves as an aid to envisioning the ideals toward which we strive . In a spirit of ongoing renewal , each member is urged to use this profile for ongoing growth and renewal . I had the privilege of being in Rome to help write Profile of the Missionary of the Precious Blood along with our other missionaries from around the world . It was officially approved by our Congregation back in 2000 , but it proves to still be relevant today . However , the profile was written in such a way that it is intended to be developed in each concrete cultural circumstance .
I revisited Profile of the Missionary of the Precious Blood in light of my coming into a new culture in Vietnam . I reflected on it during the past two weeks as I helped Fr . Nhan Bui with the orientation of our candidates in formation . A lot has happened for them lately as they returned from summer ministries , went through orientation at Xavier Mission House and their perspective schools of theology , and then went on retreat . I can appreciate what they are going through , having been through it myself . Discernment can be hard work .
Summer ministries proved to be valuable experiences in learning for our candidates in formation . Hao Pham spent the summer doing ministry at Loc Tan Parish in Binh Phuoc Province of the Phu Cuong Diocese in the Central Highlands under the supervision of Pastor Dominic Chi Hoang . Along with two other seminarians , he taught English to 120 students in grades 2-9 . He also taught catechism to 300 people on Sundays , which included some ethnic minorities from the S ’ tieng group . Hao especially enjoyed visiting the ethnic minorities in their homes in the rural countryside .
There are 32,000 people in that area and 800 are parishioners of the parish . However , 70 % of the students that Hao taught were non-Catholics . Most of the families that he visited were either workers from the rubber processing company or poor farmers . The longer he was there , the more Hao discovered just how poor the people were . Illiteracy was high due to people quitting school early to begin working to support the family . Parents work long hours and often do not have much time to spend with their children . That is why the Catholic Church plays an important part in education and activities for the children . Hao taught in the mornings and provided activities for the children
4 • The New Wine Press • October 2016