Carmelites Friars – North of American Province of St. Elias in allegiance to Jesus Christ
On the morning of August 18, 2025, at St. Joseph Priory, Ho Chi Minh City, the entire Carmelite community of the Commissariat of St. Joseph gathered joyfully for a Thanksgiving Mass and the First Profession of four brothers:
- Bro. Joseph Trần Lưu Tuyển Long, O.Carm.
- Bro. Joseph Vianney Đậu Viết Năng, O.Carm.
- Bro. Joseph Nguyễn Hoàng Thắng, O.Carm.
- Bro. Peter Nguyễn Văn Toàn, O.Carm.
The Mass began at 6:30 AM and was presided over by Fr. Joseph Trần Thăng Hưng, O.Carm., Commissary Provincial. Concelebrating with him were members of the Provincial Council, formation directors, spiritual directors, guest priests, and Carmelite friars from various communities. This special occasion was graced by the presence of many religious men and women, the families of the professed, benefactors, and friends from near and far.
At the start of the Mass, Fr. Joseph warmly welcomed all priests and guests, inviting the entire congregation to unite in heartfelt prayer for the brothers about to profess their vows. Following the Liturgy of the Word, in a deeply reverent atmosphere, Fr. Paul Therese Trần Văn Hùng, O.Carm., solemnly announced the names of the brothers before the celebrant and the assembly.
In his homily, Fr. Joseph addressed the newly professed with heartfelt encouragement:
“Be quick to listen and to carry out God’s will. If you are to boast in anything, boast in the Lord.”
He exhorted them to remain faithful to Christ, to abide in Him like branches attached to the vine, for “without the Lord, you can do nothing.”
He continued:
“Today is the day you root your life in Christ. You no longer belong to yourself, but entirely to Him. If your life is not anchored in Christ, everything else is meaningless. Therefore, be deeply rooted in Carmelite spirituality—through fraternity, community life, and service. Today is not the end of your journey but the beginning of pruning: through sacrifice, challenges, and hardships. The path of temporary vows is not a comfortable one, but a daily call to refinement, sacrifice, obedience, communal living, love, and self-denial.”
Fr. Joseph concluded by encouraging the brothers to become “a fragrance of love” in the Lord, in the community, in service, and in the world—bearing much fruit for the glory of God.
The Mass continued with the Rite of Simple Profession. After affirming their intention to dedicate their lives fully to God, each brother approached the altar, placed his hands in the hands of the Commissary Provincial, and solemnly professed the vows of obedience, poverty, and chastity—offering their whole lives to God in the Carmelite way of life.
These evangelical vows draw the religious into deep communion with God through prayer, contemplation, and service to the Church.
This sacred moment was profoundly moving for the entire assembly and especially for the newly professed, as they stepped into a new chapter of consecrated life.
Following their profession, the brothers received the white mantle of the Order, symbolizing purity of heart and mind. They are now called to live virtuously so that, with God’s grace, they may offer their lives with a holy and pure heart, free from sin.
Then, following the sign of peace extended by all the Carmelite brothers, Fr. Joseph presented each newly professed with the Rule of the Order. This gesture signifies their commitment to no longer walk according to their own will, but in accordance with the Gospel path entrusted to the Order by the Church.
The Rule becomes their spiritual compass—guiding them to remain faithful in Carmelite spirituality, prayer, fraternity, and apostolic service. It is more than a written document; it is a way of life and a sacred mission in their consecration.
At the conclusion of the Mass, Fr. Francis Xavier Nguyễn Xuân Chính, O.Carm., on behalf of the Order and the newly professed, offered words of heartfelt gratitude to the presider, concelebrants, religious brothers and sisters, family members, benefactors, and friends who came to support and pray for the Order and the newly professed. He also invited everyone to continue praying for and supporting the brothers as they continue their formation journey.
This grace-filled day ended with a joyful fraternal banquet—an opportunity for the community to celebrate together and offer congratulations to the newly professed. The First Profession of these four brothers marks not only a spiritual milestone in their lives but also a precious gift from God to the Carmelite Order and the universal Church.
The seeds of vocation continue to take root, grow, and bear fruit in the vineyard of the Lord—testifying that consecrated love remains a living witness to the Gospel in today’s world.
