Rome, the eternal city, in the month of September, gives a good opportunity to stroll through its narrow streets, amidst archaeological remains, to stop for an espresso, a pizza or an ice cream... And we did it, but the purpose of our stay in Rome was actually not tourism, but to participate in the meeting of the "new" superiors of the congregation, some of whom, as a result of the covid, were not so new in their job. We were eighteen confreres from the four corners of the world, all major superiors. The congregation works in 60 countries, therefore about a third of the countries were represented. We were welcomed by our Superior General, Fr.Alain Mayama, his seven concillors and the confreres who work at our general house, in all about fifteen confreres at the service of the 2800 members of the congregation. The common languages were English, French and Portuguese, even if English has been gaining influence recently.

Meeting together is first of all a time of fraternity, the superiors are in principle already experienced confreres who have good human qualities, a good spirit of service and a sense of perseverance. They obviously have their limitations and we know that living in community for ten days is much lighter than living together in our communities of origin for ten years or more... but this Spiritan fraternity is important and meaningful. Superiors often carry a lot of responsibility, ideally with their close collaborators, but often also in a certain solitude. It is good to be together, to share our experiences and to hear that despite all the difficulties, the congregation is happy to be able to count on us!

We live in a fragile world, where difficulties are not lacking. We have to find the finances to keep our respective missions alive, some Spiritan communities are faced with insecurity or isolation. There is also the challenge of living together, the temptation being great for missionaries to follow their own path. Many confreres are in so-called "irregular" situations, living far from any community and not concerned with the community life inherent in religious life. There are those who find it difficult to find a mission that makes them responsible, those who are not honest about their celibacy or the management of money. There are risks of emotional, sexual or power abuse. Being a superior requires mobilizing confreres in projects that are worthy of our call: having a deep spiritual life, being committed to the poor, respecting and dialoguing with people who do not have the same religion as us. There is also the administrative aspect and the orientations of the Congregation (the General or Provincial Chapters) to put into practice.

To be a good superior, one must have patience, know how to collaborate with one's peers, accept imperfection in oneself and in the lives of one's colleagues, spend a lot of time writing letters, making phone calls, organizing private meetings and work meetings, persevere in one's mission and with all this find joy in what one does. We were reminded to not work alone, but to work together with our council team, our bursar, our secretary, laypeople,… One can be an excellent superior, an average superior or a poor superior. The grace that is given is that of being able to grow by giving oneself and to put one's trust in God much more than in one's personal qualities. And when something fails (a relationship with a confrere, a lasting problem without solution, fatigue and a certain loneliness), we have the advantage of being able to offer all this for the love of the Cross of Christ.

What impressed us during these ten days at the Generalate was to see the good example of the team of our generalate. They coming from all horizons, they are at different stages of life (the youngest is 50 years old, the oldest 67 years old...). If each one of them is there, it is not for his own pleasure but above all to serve the congregation. One of the counselors said in his homily, "We must find God in the mundanity of everyday life”. This is very true. Thank you to all those who assume responsibilities in the congregation. May we find our joy in what we do for the good of all. 

Dans notre monde moderne, les gens voyagent de plus en plus à l’Etranger pour diverses raisons. Ils font du tourisme, du business, de l’humanitaire, … Et nous, nous sommes missionnaires ! Les approches et la compréhension du pays visité diffèrent grandement suivant la motivation du voyage. Les touristes recherchent la distraction, la gastronomie et une touche dosée d’exotisme, les hommes et les femmes d’affaires veulent faire du chiffre, les humanitaires veulent se rendre utile à la société et faire de belles rencontres. Les missionnaires, paradoxalement, n’ont pas d’attentes bien précises. Ils se laissent façonner par ce qui les attend, ils se laissent accueillir par les locaux, souvent surpris par leur gentillesse et disponibilité. Le temps est l’un des grands atouts de la découverte d’une culture. Lorsqu’il se compte en années, le visiteur passe par trois étapes successives, : l’émerveillement, le désenchantement et enfin l’adaptation réaliste, où la nouvelle culture s’offre à soi avec son charme, sa beauté mais aussi ses limites qui sont source d’incompréhensions et de frustrations. Celui qui reste longtemps dans un pays adopte en partie les réflexes et la mentalité locale, tout en restant profondément imprégné de sa culture d’origine.

Les Spiritains sont en Inde depuis douze ans. Il y a six ans, ils ont rejoint la circonscription de Taiwan-Vietnam. Taiwan s’est séparé du groupe en mai 2021 et nous sommes maintenant le groupe Vietnam-Inde. Pendant les deux années de pandémie, les contacts entre l’Inde et le Vietnam étaient limités à des échanges téléphoniques. Au mois de Juillet, j’ai pu rendre visite à la communauté sur place pour trois semaines. Ce fut mon second séjour en Inde et mon premier en tant que supérieur des deux pays.

Notre présence spiritaine en Inde est aujourd’hui une goutte d’eau dans ce vaste monde. La communauté en Inde est constituée de 4 prêtres, un diacre et 4 frères en formation (en 1^ère, 3^ème et 4^ème année de formation). Trois des quatre prêtres travaillent à l’Etranger (mais ils étaient là lors de mon passage). La communauté est donc très fragile et beaucoup de questions se posent sur son avenir. Les jeunes en formation sont dynamiques mais leur formation est longue (12 ans) et les soucis familiaux ou le manque de persévérance personnelle peuvent les amener à quitter la communauté en milieu de parcours. Les prêtres eux-mêmes peinent à trouver leur place dans une Eglise où les Eglises urbaines ne manquent pas de personnel mais les Eglises rurales sont en manque de pasteurs. Il suffirait alors d’envoyer les confrères en milieu rural pour qu’ils aient du travail et puissent subsister à leurs besoins. Le problème, c’est que les instituts de formation à la vie religieuse (philosophie, théologie) sont en ville. Pour le bien de la vie communautaire, il faut donc rester en ville. Mais comment s’en sortir financièrement et quel travail pastoral y accomplir ? La question n’est pas simple. La communauté n’a pas non plus de maison qui lui appartienne. Un des bienfaiteurs locaux met à sa disposition une maison grande certes, mais très vieille, et il a fait comprendre que dans un an ou deux, il voudrait récupérer son bien. Voilà pour les grands défis des années à venir.

La vie en Inde a cependant son charme. On y retrouve l’agitation typiquement asiatique, les gens qui vivent dehors, le trafic dantesque, les échoppes où l’on cuisine à même la devanture, et puis ce monde imprégné de religion et de religiosité, si loin du monde occidental qui a décidé que Dieu appartenait désormais au passé et que seul l’homme avait la maitrise de sa destinée (légère caricature mais constat réel malheureusement). En venant du Vietnam, j’ai été agréablement surpris par deux choses en particulier. Tout d’abord la maitrise de l’Anglais par la franche privilégiée de la société, ce qui m’a permis de participer à des célébrations et même des conférences (incroyable !) en comprenant ce qu’il s’y disait et aussi de rencontrer des familles. Et là quelle ne fut pas ma surprise de voir que la famille indienne (du moins en ville) s’apparente assez bien à la famille occidentale. Par contraste, au Vietnam, les invitations se font toujours lors d’évènements festifs de grande ampleur, minimum trente à quarante personnes, les hommes d’un coté, les femmes de l’autre. En Inde, les familles qui m’ont reçues étaient nucléaires, et chose étonnante, les enfants participaient joyeusement aux conversations des adultes.

Durant mon séjour, j’ai aussi eu la chance d’aller au plus grand lieu de pèlerinage du Sud de l’Inde pour les chrétiens, à Notre Dame de Velankanni. Pour ce faire nous avons pris des bus de nuits, et quelle ne fut ma surprise de voir une station de bus bondée à 1h du matin et les gens courir vers leur bus pour y entrer (fort heureusement nous prenions une destination nettement moins prisée des travailleurs locaux). J’ai également été accueilli dans la famille de notre diacre indien, et j’ai apprécié la simplicité de la vie rurale mais aussi le fait d’entendre que petit à petit les paysans d’aujourd’hui ont une vie un peu moins dure que leurs parents. L’eau potable, l’électricité et les motos commencent à faire partie du paysage. Les salaires restent néanmoins fort bas, ce qui explique que l’exode vers les villes se poursuit inéxorablement.

Trois semaines, c’est une expérience limitée, mais j’ai beaucoup apprécié la gentillesse et l’accueil de mes confrères. J’ai été heureux de rencontrer les jeunes en formation, et à tous, je leur ai dit : prenez votre futur en main, nous sommes là pour vous aider même à distance à faire les bons choix, ayez confiance dans la Providence, soyez unis, généreux et enthousiastes dans ce que vous faites, ma prière et mon amitié vous accompagne.

At the end of January 2021, ten days before the Vietnamese New Year, when we were ready to leave for Dalat, 350 km from our home, to spend the second novitiate retreat and the Lunar New Year, I was still hesitating... Should we review our plans this time and stay at home? I called the Salesians and they told me that the police had set up roadblocks to discourage unnecessary travel, but they said that they were ready to welcome us. I changed my mind and we opted for a closer destination, 120km from here, a place called “Vung Tau”, on the seaside, where the Sisters of Charity agree to welcome us. On the programme, a week's retreat led by my confrere for the eight novices, then a visit to two families, one Vietnamese (Sang’s family, one of my novices) and a French family (Pierre and Sophie and their four children). In the middle of the retreat we received some bad news. In two cities in Vietnam, some cases of covid have emerged. Should we cancel our post-retreat holiday plans? I phoned the Vietnamese family who replied in true local style: "We asked our parish priest for advice, saying: 'Can we welcome the brothers and their foreign priest?’ The bishop gave the green light...” (The story does not say whether he contacted the Pope...) The father of the family said to me: "I have prayed, I am confident... ". This reply may seem strange for a foreigner. But what a wisdom in reality! A decision to welcome people from outside the village is in fact taken in consultation with those who are feel responsible for the village's security and who put their trust in God...

When we arrive, the atmosphere is relaxed and warm... It is a big family that welcomes us. Sang has eleven brothers and sisters. Uncles and aunts and cousins in the village will also join the party. In the kitchen, a separate room of the house, gathered around the wood fire, people are busy to prepare the food. To welcome so many people (40 guests) is not a piece of cake, but everybody is so excited, that they don’t mind. There are oysters on the menu (which will be cooked...but I can't resist eating a raw one). Wine and beer are put on the four 4 tables. We enjoy our meal and I make my best to catch up the conversation…When we arrive, the atmosphere is relaxed and warm... It is a big family that welcomes us. Sang has eleven brothers and sisters. Uncles and aunts and cousins in the village will also join the party. In the kitchen, a separate room of the house, gathered around the wood fire, people are busy to prepare the food. To welcome so many people (40 guests) is not a piece of cake, but everybody is so excited, that they don’t mind. There are oysters on the menu (which will be cooked...but I can't resist eating a raw one). Wine and beer are put on the four 4 tables. We enjoy our meal and I make my best to catch up the conversation…

In the evening, for the mass, we are all dressed up. At night, half of the novices and I sleep in the house of Sister de Sang who has gone to her in-laws. The others sleep on mats in the living room. The next day we go to the cemetery together to pray for the family ancestors. Then we visit the grandmother's house and the aunts' and uncles' houses... The lucky red envelopes pass from hand to hand. According to the tradition (we would be rude if we don’t do it…) we will look later if the red envelopes contain 20.000 or 50.000 or 100.000vnd or even more... Fortunately my confrere handle me envelopes that I give to the youngest of the family, in the name of our community...

At midday, my French friends arrive in a side-car and a scooter. They have four children who are delighted to speak in English with the novices and some members of the de Sang family. It is the first time they spend the Vietnamese New Year with a Vietnamese family. What an honour! The joy is mutual. My friends feel at ease right away. They both come from families of ten and seven children respectively... After lunch, we are invited by Pierre and Sophie to spend two days in their home. We enjoy everything: the meals, the walks, to swimm at the beach and at home, etc. The cuisine of the hostess is authentically French. What a joy to see my novices tasting quiches, salads, gratin and of course cakes of all kinds. This holiday filled me with a healthy pride, that of having built bridges between two cultures, the Vietnamese and the Western. Language is often a barrier in Vietnam for many foreigners, but there is also the fact that people often lack opportunities to get to know each other. Thanks to the generosity of the two families. Next time you come to our place, we are not afraid to welcome people with open arms either!

The pandemic is in every conversation. It affects the elderly, students, workers, health professionals and also people living abroad. Missionaries know this world of expatriates well, as they are part of it. Many expatriates, depending on their financial resources and the proximity of their country of origin, used to return home regularly. While in the 1950s missionaries returned home every five or ten years, today they return every year, or every two or three years, depending on the rules of their community. At the beginning of my mission in Vietnam, in 2007, I used to return home every two years. I liked this rhythm, enjoying my summer holidays in Vietnam every two years and the other summer in Belgium with my parents. Five years ago, I was appointed novice master and started going home every year.

Three years ago my mother was diagnosed with a lung tumour. Gradually, she became weaker. At Summer 2019, I took a month's holiday at home. I went on a few small outings with my mother, including a visit to the Royal Greenhouses in bloom. I left my parents at the end of my holiday with a heavy heart, thinking that I would never see my mother again. One morning in November 2019, I received an emergency call from my family. My mother was in a coma. 24 hours later, I was in her hospital room, listening to her irregular breathing. However, two days later, thanks to the medication, my mother was much better. I then spent three beautiful weeks between hospital and home, living in deep intimacy with my mother, and also looking after my father. However, my job as a formator in Vietnam was waiting for me and I had to say goodbye and shed tears again. For a year I called regularly, but gradually the phone conversations became shorter and shorter. My mother was exhausted. She finally died on 9 January 2021, a few hours after falling into a coma.

I had known for a long time that, with the airspace closed, it would not be possible for me to return from Vietnam to say goodbye to my mother and celebrate her funeral. In my missionary life, I had already been absent from the funerals of my grandfather (I was in China) and my two grandmothers (I was studying in Portugal). When my mother passed away, despite the distance, I actually experienced a very emotional and beautiful week of mourning. Although I was far from home, I received many messages of friendship by e-mail, by FB or by phone. In community, my novices immediately suggested me to print a beautiful picture of my mother and place it in the chapel with flowers and incense. We prayed every day for my mother's rest and for my family. I also wrote three homilies for my mother. One of them was the homily at Mom's funeral, which was videotaped for my family members. I also celebrated two memorial masses for her, one in Vietnamese and one in French, with many friends in attendance. I had my family on the phone throughout the week of mourning and they, in turn, recorded the video of the funeral which I was able to see on the web.

More than anything, what makes me happy today is knowing that my mother is following my mission in Vietnam from heaven. She now knows all the details, the joys and sorrows. The only thing that saddens me is that I cannot accompany my father in his mourning. Today I feel at peace and, although the physical presence of our family is essential, the most important thing, in the end, is the love we have for them and they have for us. All those moments spent with Mum over 48 years (nine months of which were spent in the warmth...) will always remain in my memory. I will end with an anecdote. Two years ago, when my mother was already ill, I said to her: "I am sad, you are ill and instead of staying in Belgium, I am leaving". She answered: "I am happy, you are a missionary and it is your duty to continue your mission". So, Mother, have a good mission in heaven from now on!

Dear colleagues, relatives and friends,                      Vietnam, December 2020.

Ten thousand kilometers separate me from Europe, and at the time of the covid, daily life in Vietnam is indeed a thousand miles away from the tragedy being experienced in the Western world. As I write to you (a few days before Christmas), I have just celebrated the children's mass in a crowed church; there were a thousand people present.

Vietnam combines two advantages to face the covid. On the one hand, people are naturally more inclined to limit their outings by themselves when a supposed or real danger arises. On the other hand, the government does not skimp on discipline. At the first signs of contamination, four months ago, it did not hesitate to quarantine a million people for three weeks and forbid them to leave their homes... and it works, since at the present time there are no reported cases on the territory, except some people returning from abroad who are placed in strict quarantine in hotels for two or three weeks. And since it is necessary to give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's, I add that millions of Vietnamese Christians are also constantly praying for God's protection for them, their families and their country and of course for the pandemic to stop causing health, economic and emotional devastation throughout the world.

Christmas is about to be celebrated and in Vietnam, we are lucky enough to be able to prepare it in a joyful mood. The feast of Christmas reminds us of the amazing mixture of joy and sadness that inhabit the hearts of God and his believers. The savior of the world is here, an incredible news, unimaginable but very real, but a news that takes place in the almost general indifference. Times have not changed much... For many of our contemporaries, Christmas has nothing to do with spiritual life, it is just a family celebration, similar to New Year's Eve or a summer barbecue.

Personally, I am delighted to be able to continue to be nourished by the enthusiasm of the Christians of Vietnam. Of course, after thirteen years in Vietnam, there are not many new experiences, exoticism is no longer part of my missionary life since I am in familiar environment. Sometimes I wished I could engage in a new adventure and to set out again towards new horizons, but I know that it is always in the present moment that God joins us. I appreciate the kindness, generosity and fidelity of the brothers whom I accompany on the path of their vocation. I am grateful to the sisters who welcome me three times a week to say mass in their community. I am very touched by the generosity of the Vietnamese who have their hearts on their hands. Above all, I am grateful to God for his fidelity and the fact that he gives meaning to my life day after day. I know that while I have my imperfections, my sin, and my lack of maturity as it is proper to every human being, nevertheless, God thank me for what I have been living with Him and with the Vietnamese for so many years.

In this time of forced immobility due to the pandemic, I wish you to cultivate your interiority and to give even more meaning to your small daily gestures, so that in a narrow or remote future, you will be able to say to yourselves: "This strange war has been hard, but I wanted to live it with as much peace as possible, it made me turn to other people who are more vulnerable than I am...".   Merry Christmas, with love, Father Fred.