Four Young Men Enter The Novitiate in Vietnam 2024

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Maria

FOUR YOUNG MEN ENTER THE NOVITIATE IN VIETNAM

August 18, 2024— Saigon, Vietnam, In a ceremony filled with spiritual meaning and tradition, four young men in Vietnam were received into the Carmelite novitiate on August 18, 2024. They are Joseph Long Tran, John Vianey Nang Dau, Peter Toan Nguyen, and Joseph Thang Nguyen. The investiture of their Carmelite habits was presided over by Very Reverend Mario Esposito, O.Carm., Prior Provincial of the North American Province of Saint Elias, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their spiritual journey.

The investiture, held at the Carmelite community in Vietnam, signified the formal reception of the men into the Order of Carmelites. With the donning of the traditional brown Carmelite habit, they publicly expressed their commitment to a life of prayer, community, and service, following the footsteps of the ancient Carmelite tradition.

During his homily, Father Mario Esposito emphasized the significance of the novitiate, which is a time of deep spiritual growth, discernment, and formation. He spoke about the rich Carmelite heritage rooted in contemplation, solitude, and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Patroness of the Carmelite Order. Addressing the novices, he encouraged them to embrace this period of transformation with openness, humility, and dedication, allowing God to shape their hearts and minds for the mission ahead.

As the new novices stood before the altar, surrounded by their families, friends, and fellow Carmelites, Father Esposito blessed their habits and formally clothed them with the Carmelite scapular, a symbol of their new identity in the Order. The novices, now clothed in the humble brown habit, embarked on a year of intense spiritual formation, during which they will live out the Carmelite charism of prayer, fraternity, and service under the guidance of experienced mentors.

The novitiate is a crucial stage in the formation of a Carmelite. It serves as a time for the novices to deepen their relationship with God, learn more about the Carmelite way of life, and discern their calling to the Order. Over the next year, these young men will immerse themselves in a life of contemplative prayer, study, and community living, as they prepare to take their next steps toward full membership in the Carmelite family.

Father Mario Esposito also extended his gratitude to the families of the novices, acknowledging their role in nurturing the faith of these young men and supporting them in their vocational journey.

This investiture marks a significant moment not only for the novices but also for the Carmelite community in Vietnam, which continues to grow and thrive, contributing to the larger mission of the Church in spreading the Gospel and fostering spiritual renewal.

As these four novices begin their journey, the entire Carmelite family in Vietnam and beyond joins in prayer, asking for God’s grace and the intercession of Our Lady of Mount Carmel to accompany them in their path of discernment and service.

Bro. Tuan Bui, O.Carm.
SEL Media