During Father Joseph visited our hometown this past summer, 2025, he took me on a meaningful trip to visit our fellow Van Kieu people in Quang Tri province. This was not just a simple trip during the summer break, but also a journey that helped me broaden my heart, learn to listen, and gain a deeper understanding of human beings and life.
After visiting our fellow Van Kieu people, we continued to Huong Thien House, belonging to the Congregation of Our Lady of the Poor. Father Tran An is currently the superior of the community there. As soon as I arrived, I felt a simple yet warm atmosphere, where people who seemed like strangers were easily connected with each other through sincerity and understanding with compassion.
After the trip, I truly felt very fortunate to have met and talked with the brothers living at Huong Thien House. They come from many different regions across the country and are of various ages. Each of them carries their own story, their own past, with life’s setbacks: robbery, drug abuse, homelessness, etc.. However, what is most valuable about them is their desire to change themselves, to rebuild their lives, and to strive for a better future.
During the visit, the father Joseph also gave the brothers a small gift to support and encourage them on their new journey. Although the gift was not much, it contained a great deal of love, care, and hope, serving as a silent message that they are not alone on their journey.
At the end of the trip, we stopped at Our Lady of La Vang Shrine where Mary appeared in 1798 and spent the night at the Pilgrimage Center. In that sacred and peaceful atmosphere, I had the opportunity to reflect on the entire trip with many emotions. There was the joy of giving, the gratitude of receiving, and profound lessons about compassion, empathy, and faith in the possibility of human transformation.
Although the visit has come to an end, the images, stories, and emotions from it will surely
linger with me for a long time. It was a short trip, but it brought profound meaning to my life journey and personal growth.
Sr. Anna Tran Thi Phuong Nhi. fmv