Most reverend Mother Ilaria, dear Mother Counselors and all sisters scattered throughout the world!
We are here to give thanks to the Lord our God for having called each of us to be among you. We can’t use words to express our gratitude, but we let our lives be a response to our gratitude. Indeed, today, we are celebrating the eightieth year of our Congregation’s approval of the diocesan decree. It is a great joy for us as we celebrate Thanksgiving here in our motherland Vietnam. We are not proud to say that WE ARE SISTERS, yes, it is true but more that WE ARE DAUGHTERS in our Congregation. We are truly fortunate to belong with you. We have learned so much: the joy, the sadness, the prayer, the serenity, the courage and the beauty of living together. In every tone of emotion, we learn something. Thanks to you! Without you, we are not here today.
Most Reverend Mother Ilaria, dear Mother Counselors and all Sisters!
Since we have been here, you have taught us, helped, encouraged, supported us… as long as we can go on. Let’s not look at the difficulty but fidelity to our God and our vocation. We do not look at the color of skin, hair, eyes but only the charism of the Mother Foundress – Mother Elisa. Today, with full joy in our hearts, we want to express our sincere gratitude to each of you even though we are sisters. Today, we speak and live the spirit of Mother Elisa and the Congregation here in Vietnam. We carry the spirituality of being a daughter and a mother, as the invitation of our beloved Mother Foundress.
Let us pray together that the seed of joy, of simplicity, the light of faith, the love of our Congregation are also here in Vietnam, so that the people we meet may find Jesus in each of us, they will find new life in the encounter, like Mary brought to St. Elizabeth.
Again, many thanks to all of you! God bless us!