U Mau ( U Minh- Ca Mau)

  MY PASTORAL TIME IN U MAU

Finishing my first year of theology, I was sent to U Minh, Ca Mau province with brother Tuan (my classmate) to do pastoral work for five weeks. Of course, I was ready and so eager for this but I also felt nervous because I did not know what will happen to me there. Therefore, from my brothers’ experiences, I carefully prepared many things and made a detailed plan for this pastoral time. However, when I went there, everything was not as I thought. I thought I will help parish priest, parishioners, teaching catechism, and English for children… but NO. I was wrong, totally wrong. I am the one who needs help, needs to learn from them. They taught me many things from life to my faith. Especially, after 5 weeks there, I had precious, unforgettable experiences for my religious life, for practicing faith and for companion with the poor in U Mau (Tuan and I call “U Mau” from 2 words “U Minh, Ca Mau”). 

The place where I did pastoral work is Khanh Minh parish in U Mau. The parishioners, here, are almost new Christians and living in poor, suffering conditions. This parish established last year and now there are more than 100 families with 350 parishioners. Because this parish is new, so their faith is very straightforward, sincere, and effected by folk beliefs in their place. They have no much understanding of God, Saints, the teaching of the church, Christian life but they have wonderful experiences of God’s love. These experiences express through going to the church on Sunday though their house lives far away from the church. For example, there is a lady who is 83 years old and has a strong faith. She lives alone in a small leaf house. Every Sunday, she longs to go to the church and spends a big money for motorbike taxi to take her to the church because her house is very far (more than 30 km from the church). But she always smiles and feels happy when she goes to the church, confesses with the priest, attends the Mass and receives Holy Sacrament, and leaves the church with a peaceful, happy heart. Yes, the way she practices and lives her faith so special that I need to learn from her.

My main assignment during 5 weeks there was visiting the parishioners, the poor, and the old in U Mau. The parish priest wanted two of us to be present with them, listen to their stories, and spend time having a meal with them such as being a friend of them. Therefore, every day, I had a chance to reach out with different circumstances. There are many families that I did not know how to express in word their suffering situation, how they can survive without clean water, electricity, money, even food. Perhaps, their life is like the name of this place: “U Minh” – meaning “Darkness”. They also work hard, do many things every day for earning a living. They are also aware of their suffering and try to change it but I don’t know why they are still poor, their life is always full of tears and suffering. However, they are materially poor but rich in love, in generosity, in hospitality. They have a beautiful heart and a simple mind. Every family, every story helps me understand more about their life, their culture, their suffering and reminds me to appreciate and give thanks to God for this chance (be present with the poor).

As I said, I had prepared many things, many plans for this pastoral time but when I went there everything was so different. However, I am happy with what I have just experienced in U Mau. There is one sentence father Hung who is Khanh Minh’s parish priest told me: “Just come and experience”. Thank God because He led me out of my safe place to an experienced place. Yes, God always goes before me and gives me unexpected things. In U Mau, I did not need to think much about my study but let my heart reach those who are suffering and hurt. There, my heart could touch the utmost suffering of the people, my mind reminded me to make them smile, to bring hope to them, and do some useful things to them. I think U Mau is a great place to live fully and share the charism of the Passionists.

Moreover, I believe God took me to this place not only to learn, to live, to experience the life of the people in U Mau but he also gave me a chance to rethink and remind my vows because last 7^th July was the anniversary of my first year of the profession. Perhaps, after one year of the profession, I, sometimes, forgot my vows, my promise with God to be a good Passionist, to promote the Passion of Jesus Christ to bring hope to those who are in suffering. Thank God to lead me to U Mau and give me a great pastoral time and may God bless and take care of the poor, the suffering and all the people in U Mau.

Cudo