First Professions in Vietnam: An Invitation to Imitate the Blessed Virgin Mary
On January 1, 2026, on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, five novices made their first religious profession at the Convent of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Novitiate House.
The District Superior, Fr. Francis Xavier Tran Duc Thai, SCJ, presided over the Eucharistic celebration on this first day of 2026, during which brothers Antôn Nguyễn Hữu Cường, Phêrô Nguyễn Tiến Đại, Giuse Nguyễn Công Minh, Phêrô Nguyễn Côn Sơn, and Giuse Nguyễn Quang Thanh made their first professions.
After giving thanks to God for the vocational journey of these five novices, the District Superior, in his homily, highlighted the virtues of the Blessed Virgin Mary, especially her humility, and invited the newly professed to follow her example. He also encouraged them to deepen their understanding of the three vows of consecrated life and to reflect on the challenges of religious life.
After the Prayer after Communion, a newly professed religious, representing the group, expressed words of gratitude to the priests, parents, and the community. This was followed by the District Superior’s response, in which he briefly introduced the Congregation and shared the direction for the coming year, particularly the plan to relocate the Novitiate of the District to Đắk Nông Province. May the community continue to unite in prayer for the newly professed and for the Congregation on their journey of vocation and mission.
The Mass was presided over by the District Superior, with the presence and concelebration of confreres of the Congregation, priest relatives, diocesan and religious priests from within and outside the diocese, benefactors, family members, and the faithful. The liturgy was celebrated in an atmosphere of reverence and devotion.
