by Gabrielle Low
In mid-July, we visited and offered our services in Ho Chi Minh and Hue, Vietnam. The Daughters of Mary Immaculate opened their doors and welcomed us.
We arrived by coach in Ho Chi Minh City (HCM) after a series of potholes on the Cambodia side. It is only 240 kilometers between Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City but it took us six and half hours to arrive!
We were warmly welcomed by the Daughters of Mary Immaculate (DMI), a local congregation founded by two French Bishops in the 1920. As the community house in La Vansy Street was small (as all houses are in the city), we were invited to stay in another community house in Thu Duc, 45 minutes away from the city centre.
The Mother General of the DMI, Sr Bong
The superior of the community was very welcoming and made sure we were comfortable and the table was full of food at every meal. However, when we looked at the sisters' tables, it was usually simple fare. On Friday evenings, they fast at dinner, only taking white rice with salt and pepper. (They donate their dinner money to the poor). We, however, still have our regular dishes.
With the DMI sisters in Ho Chin Minh City. Sr Lucille (second right) is the superior of the community.
In Thu Duc, one of the parish churches allows the residents nearby to draw drinking water from the taps in the church compound. The parish priest lets each family draw 20 liters of water per day during specific times. The water in Vietnam is not potable as well.
Nearby residents getting water from the parish taps
We visited one of their orphanage/children centers in Thu Duc, HCM. It was built as a gift from a French couple. It was a well-thought out and a well-designed building.
Inside the chapel at the orphanage
Three DMI sisters (age 60 to the late 70’s) live there as a community. They still climb up and down the four floor levels like they are in their prime! They have volunteers coming in to teach the nearby under-privileged children simple English. While we were there, we met Josephine, a French girl who spent her summer teaching English to the children.
Sr Marie Pierre (centre) is in charge of the Orphanage given by a French couple.
There is also a little center for the orphans (sometimes abandoned at their doorsteps) and at the same time, the sisters take in children on a temporary basis, especially those whose parents are too sick to care for them, until the parents are better.
We managed to have a session on the Shared Book Approach (SBA) with some of their aspirants and professed sisters who are kindergarten teachers (17 in all at HCM).
Frances conducting her session with the aspirants and some sisters at Thu Duc on the Shared Book Approach to English learning
However, there was a smaller group from the Hue’s community. One of the junior sister said that she had a better idea now on how to share a book with her younger charges.
The eager aspirants making the most of the session
Most of them who attended the sessions were able to walk away with something. The session was enjoyable and a good learning experience as they are now more aware of how to make their classes more interesting for their young charges.
An informal session with some sisters and novices on the Shared Book Approach at Hue
In Hue, we had the opportunity to talk with Sr. Cecilia, who was back from Virginia, US to celebrate her 50th Golden Jubilee. She shared with us the journey of her escape during the fall of Saigon. She landed at Guam and then on to California in 1975. Her story helped us to put into place the jigsaw puzzle regarding the Vietnam War and the danger and struggle of the boat people. History was brought alive for us. It is a story of courage and God's graces in her life. It was truly inspiring to hear how she helped her family- putting 25 nephews and nieces through school in US over a span of 20 years by working as a teacher.
An hour from Hue is LA VANG. This is the place where Mother Mary appeared to the villagers in 1798. It was crowded when we arrived and mass was celebrated every hour. We offered up a rosary for the intentions of our families and friends. (Therefore, all of you are remembered in our prayers.)
Together at La Vang
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