Special Features of MLEP1

After a long and tiring trip through the night, we set foot on the land still called "holy land" - Our Lady of Bai Dau, Vung Tau. The heat combined with the fatigue of walking a long uphill road makes everyone tired. After checking in, we had the rest of the morning to rest at the Cistercian Monastery of Thien Phuoc.

On the first morning of MLEP1 (Lay Forum in the Mission of Caring for the Common Home), we thought we could not see "spring", but the bright smiles on the faces of the participants seemed to dispel all the heat; Bright eyes lit up when they saw each other and greeted each other on a new day.

People often say: "The first meets the last", so the days of meeting took place beautifully and peacefully in the love of God and each other.

There are many special features in this Forum:

All participants responded, welcomed and participated enthusiastically. It seems that no one complained when they had to leave the atmosphere of Dalat to go to the sunny and windy area of ​​Vung Tau, instead they were more grateful. The participants gave each other many smiles, gestures of service and love throughout the time. Everyone felt much joy and happiness, because they saw God's love as vast as the ocean. One girl shared: "Happiness because through contemplating nature we can feel God's love... Peace because we can let go of all the work at home and focus on contemplation to see God's love."

In this course, compatriots in parishes make up the majority. We easily recognize many cute things about them: humility, joy, simplicity, honesty and enthusiasm, etc. It is like salt and leaven that marinates the soul for each of us.

The most special thing is that the forum's goals were significantly achieved. The participants were very aware and aware of the call to care for the Common Home and the poor. Everyone lives in a "together" atmosphere: praying together, massing together, learning together, discussing and sharing, serving together and having fun together. That deeply describes the nature of "Collaboration" (communion, participation and mission) in the Church today.

End your working days with a climb to Christ the King Mountain. It seemed to mark a conviction of faith when together discovering the Encyclical Laudato Si' and living the days of this forum. Each individual and parish has its own plan, and is a little worried about difficulties, however, it is still full of confidence, because what pleases God is always blessed by God. He always encouraged each person to start with small things, "Whoever is faithful in small things..." (Luke 16:10), with great love for the Common House and the poor.