Vocations: 8 new deacons for the Archdiocese of Hanoi

Archbishop Joseph Vu Van Thien presided over the rite for some young men on their way to the priesthood on the eve of today's World Vocations Day. Last Sunday, the Hanoi Catholic Church itself had celebrated its Youth Day by returning to gather 5,000 young people for the first time since Covid.

Hanoi (AsiaNews) - "There is no vocation without mission. And there is no happiness and full self-realization without offering others the new life we have found. The divine call to love is an experience that cannot be silenced." Pope Francis writes this in his message for the 60th World Day of Vocations, which is being celebrated today in dioceses on every continent.

"In the Church, we are all servants and servant women, according to different vocations, charisms and ministries," the pope reminds, pointing to the perspective in a "vocational symphony" in which each is related to the others. But one of the faces of this symphony certainly remains that of ordained ministers (deacons, priests, bishops) "placed at the service of the Word, prayer and communion of the holy people of God."

After years of great flourishing, even Asia - especially in some of its regions - is beginning to come to terms with the phenomenon of a decline in vocations to this type of ministry. That is why on this day it is good to highlight the news from the Archdiocese of Hanoi in northern Vietnam, where - the diocesan website reports - on Wednesday, April 26, Archbishop Msgr. Joseph Vu Van Thien presided at the cathedral over the ordination rite of eight new deacons from the archdiocese's major seminary who are on their way to the priesthood.

To the new deacons, Archbishop Van Thiên reminded them that the three degrees of priesthood - the diaconate, presbyterate and episcopate - "are not titles or honors that indicate privilege, but tasks in service. You are called to serve the Church and serve your brothers and sisters."

As was noted a few days ago during the presentation at the Vatican of Pope Francis' message for the World Day of Vocations, there is a very close link between the vitality of youth ministry and the readiness to give one's life totally in the following of Jesus and in the service of one's brothers and sisters. This is also confirmed by the account of the Archdiocese of Hanoi, where just last Sunday about 5,000 young people participated in the seventh Diocesan Youth Day. It was an event that came after years of forced suspension due to Covid-19.

The young people gathered for a day that was marked by the theme "Mary rose and went in haste," proposed by Pope Francis ahead of World Youth Day to be held this summer in Lisbon. Archbishop Joseph Vu Van Thiên dialogued by answering their questions, before the grand Eucharistic celebration followed by 30 minutes of silent Eucharistic adoration. The meeting closed with a performance in which young people from all seven pastoral zones of the archdiocese enacted what it means for them to walk together with Mary in their lives.

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