Dear Fathers, Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
To celebrate the 65th anniversary of the return of the Jesuits to Vietnam, our Provincial Father chose this special opportunity to talk about me, a Vietnamese Jesuit Brother. I am very happy and proud to write this article for you because this is also my 65th birthday, as I was born in 1957. God called me to serve Him in the society. I thank Him for the past 65 years. I am still healthy in body and soul to continue serving the mission of Christ in this small country of Timor-Leste.
My vocation as a Jesuit Brother was formed in a simple way, but acquiring this noble vocation was not easy. I was born into an ordinary Catholic family—just like many other brothers in the society—but am fortunate to have been born in the same land as Blessed Andrew Phu Yen—a Jesuit also.
Before entering the Society, I had no intention of becoming a monk; I only dreamed of finding a way to save my soul and to serve the souls of others. At that moment, I recognized that sin separates us from God and eternal life. When knocking on the door of the Society, I still did not understand who the Jesuits are and their charism.
When I entered the Society, I also did not think that I would become a priest or a brother; I was convinced of only one thing: that I would have to become a servant of God and my brothers and sisters. In the early days of my vocation in this Order, after a few months, I discovered many things about the Jesuit vocation. Being aware that I was looking for a way to become a saint, I didn’t care much about studying at that time. Seeing my friends competing for academic achievement, I preferred to compete on how to love and serve God more in ordinary life. That’s also the reason I later decided to live my vocation as a brother if I had been chosen in the Society of Jesus.
After the candidate period, I was selected to enter the novitiate. I learned about Ignatian spirituality and many surprises, as there have been many Jesuit saints. They have many diverse apostolates; they are able to save souls and serve God depending on their ability. During the novitiate, I knew better about God’s will, understood the Order better, and understood myself better. I am happy because even if I am a sinner, God chose to call me. Through the example of the Saints and the history of the Jesuits, I see that the Jesuits are really big, but the Jesuits also have the doors to open for many people to lead them to Heaven. Studying the example of St. Stanislao Kostka: “I was born to live for something nobler.” I understand the noble and precious here means “becoming a saint.” This is joy and happiness that can compare to nothing. I am convinced that I can live anywhere and do anything, as long as I belong to God through my Jesuit vocation. Father Nghia SJ once gave recollection for the candidates (and Thu Duc, who was at that time a scholastic from Da Lat). I will forever remember Father Nghia’s words: “Our life is only the value of knowing how to serve.”.
65 years of my old with the Jesuits for the past 51 years, serving the Vietnamese church is full of memories of the hardships and happiness in the Jesuit vocation. I am lucky to see happiness through what people consider to be difficult. Thank God, thank you to the Society of Jesus, and thank you to all of you brothers in the Lord.
I may be far away, but my heart still remembers and prays for you twice a day in my time prayer.
Finally, I would like to share with you simple pictures—to express the joy of serving God and the Church.
In the Lord
Brother Tha – SJ.
Timor Leste
January 31, 2022.
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Biography:
Brother Duong Tha SJ.
I was born on September 15, 1957, at Mang Lang parish, Qui Nhon diocese, in Phu Yen Province, in a farmer family of 8 children.
At the age of 6 in 1963, our house was bombed due to war. It got destroyed, causing my grandparents and my 4-year-old brother to die. The whole family had to move away for 10 years before returning to my hometown (1964- 1974).
In 1974 I began to study the Jesuit vocation. Helped the Jesuit farm to increase their production in Thu Duc for 4 years as a Jesuit candidate to from 1974 to 1978.
On November 13, 1978, I was admitted to the Thu Duc Jesuit novitiate.
February 2, 1981 made my first vows.
From 1981 to 1985, I served at the Thu Duc Jesuit community: taught catechism to children of the Epiphany Church and continued to work in livestock farming to increase production (years when the country was in economic difficulty).
From 1986 to 1995, I moved to Angel’s parish to teach catechism to children, worked as a community manager, laborer in production, livestock and farming, and represented the community and parish to participate in local government as a member of the People’s Council for 6 years.
From 1996 to 2003, I lived in the Ho Nai Jesuit community for my tertianship, participated in spreading the Gospel to the uneducated, and made my last vows in January 2000.
In 2004 I worked as a manager at the Jesuit community of Angel Parish.
In 2005, I began my new ministry in Timor Leste following the call of spell JCAP in full JCAP Superior.
From 2005 to 2012 participated in the Jesuit Mission in Suai- did social apostolate; served the poor in the southernmost of Timor Leste.
During this time
*Studied in SEARSOLIN (Social East Asia Rural Leadership Institute) Philippines 2008.
*Returned to Timor Leste in 2009 and continued to work in the Jesuit Mission Suai-project Agricultural program.
From 2013 to 2017, I worked as a community manager and took care of a 5-hectare farm in Hera, 15 km from the capital Dili, in the Timor-Leste.
In 2018, I took care of the farm, raised livestock to increase production, and helped to maintain the houses of the local communities. When needed, gave recollection for students and lay in the different parishes and extend agricultural technical help for farmers.
In 2022, until now, I served as minister of the Community of Railaco, and I support the parish and school. I teach the youth to pray with the bible – Lectio Divina.
Brother Duong Tha, SJ.
Timor Leste, February 15, 2025.