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Vietnam Province Concludes Celebration of the SVD’s 150 Years
Joseph Đỗ Nguyên Vũ, SVD
More than 300 performers—including laypeople, seminarians, and religious from various congregations—collaborated with the SVD missionaries to create a deeply spiritual program to give thanks to God and honor their predecessors. History and music were intricately woven together with meticulously prepared dances, songs, and plays for this anniversary. The event created a beautiful tapestry of gratitude, remembrance, and a renewed call to missionary discipleship.
The following morning, at 6:30 AM on September 9, the Province joyfully celebrated the ribbon-cutting and blessing of the Pastoral House, along with the blessing of the statue of Our Lady of Missions and the statue of Saint Arnold Janssen. The highlight was the solemn Mass for the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Thanksgiving Mass for the Closing of the 150th Anniversary of the Society of the Divine Word’s founding, and the celebration of the sacred consecration anniversaries of 8 priests. Bishop Joseph Huynh Van Sy of the Diocese of Nha Trang presided over the Mass, which was attended by about 2,000 faithful, filling the new grounds of the Provincial House with joy and grace on the Lord’s day.
In his homily, Bishop Joseph connected the significance of this event to the saying: “Look to the past with gratitude, live in the present with passion, and look to the future with hope.” Drawing from the Word of God, the Bishop highlighted God’s wondrous providential hand in salvation history, in the lives of St. Mary and St. Joseph, and in the histories of the Society of the Divine Word and the St. Joseph’s Congregation, which have come together to form the SVD Vietnam Province within today’s global missionary landscape. On behalf of all the members of the Province, Provincial Superior Fr. John B. Nguyen Huu Duy, SVD, gave thanks to God and expressed his gratitude to Bishop Joseph, the priests and religious, and all the benefactors, family, friends, and everyone else who participated.
At the end of the Mass, the Bishop imparted a blessing with a Plenary Indulgence to all in attendance. It was truly a celebration steeped in the spirit of unity and solidarity, inspiring everyone to continue living out the spirit of the Jubilee Year: “to bear witness to the Light of the Word, from everywhere and for everyone.”
The SVD Vietnam Province sincerely thanks all guests, both near and far, for their valuable presence, whether in person or in spirit through their prayers. May God reward all of you abundantly.
