JCAP

Ho Chi Minh Ville (Agenzia Fides) - "To serve God through the poor, in whom Christ is present, and to be with them every day" is the desire of Peter Pham Minh Hung, a priest from the parish of Vuon Xoai, belonging to the archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh Ville, in South Vietnam.

I came to the Discerning Leadership Program as an empty cup. I did not have any knowledge about leadership. The emptiness came from the weakness I felt from my lack of knowledge. I brought an empty glass into the meeting room each day and put it on the table in front of me. And each day, the glass filled up.

Taking the leap of faith for service twice is a gift and a privilege. I am very happy that I am given this opportunity, and I thank God for my second life after surviving Covid. It feels good to be back with the Jesuits–after so many years–and their spirituality of a faith that does justice.

The UAPs confirm the social apostolate as an important ministry of the Society of Jesus. Besides serving directly people in need, the UAPs also remind us that the path we seek to stand with the poor is one that promotes social justice...

I was touched by their generosity. Despite their hardship they were very generous to us. I felt the need to do something for the poor and IDP children in our neighborhood.

What does ecology mean in my Jesuit vocation? I remember as a child ardently sweeping our compound...

As a young 18-year-old woman, I set off on adventures to many far-away places. I worked as a volunteer in Aboriginal communities

If I had to summarise with a single word what I had just experienced in the Scholastics and Brothers Circle workshop in Taiwan from December 15 to 24, I would say “richness”.

Working for and with the poor and marginalized brings abundant graces but not without challenges and moments of hopelessness and desolation. However, with prayer and dedication, we learn from each other and support one another and find the support of the loving God who leads us on our journey.

Two years ago this March, we installed in our office of the Ecology Program of Jesuit Service Cambodia in Phnom Penh, a solar power system to provide for the electrical requirements of the entire office. With only 3 laptops, 1 printer, 3 fans, a couple of lights for working at night, and the periodic charging of phones and other devices, it isn’t a very big office. Nevertheless, we decided to disconnect the electrical lines of our office from the main building in which we were located and to try, from then on, to be fully dependent on the sun’s radiation.