Lessons from Vietnam

Reflection From Fr. Thomas...

​As many of you know, I recently visited Vietnam to study the language. The experience was beautiful and I greatly desire to return. One thing that I have found consistently in trips to other countries is that there is so much more to learn than the language. Here are some things I learned in my journey:

Fraternity
Vietnamese culture is extremely communal and familial. The friars spend a lot of time together and happily welcome outsiders. Their approach to fraternity taught me how to be willing to make sacrifices for the community and for visitors.

Culture
Vietnam has a deep and distinct cultural heritage. I particularly enjoyed their sacred music and chant, which differs from English because of the tonality of the language. Naturally, there were plenty of delicious and unusual foods -- blood, insects, reptiles, and just about every interior organ were all on the menu!

Language
The express reason for my trip was learning the language. I find Vietnamese several times tougher than Spanish, so I had to work very hard. It was easy to get confused; the friars laughed at me because I kept confusing the word for city ("thành phố") and bathroom ("phòng tắm")! However, I did make progress; by the time I left, I was preaching in Viet every other day. I still have a long way to go, but I can at least function in the liturgy!