EMPOWERING
Supporting Leadership Development,
Spiritual Growth,
and Educational Opportunities
CATHOLIC STUDENTS AND YOUTH
Jesuit Youth Ministry in Vietnam
in Vietnam
Jesuit Youth Ministry in Vietnam is an organization committed to providing spiritual formation, leadership training, and academic support to young Catholic people in Vietnam and those in Laos as the mission of Vietnam Province. Our mission is, first of all, to help the youth to live a life of service guided by Ignatian spirituality, and then, based on this spiritual foundation, to inspire and empower them becoming agents for changes in their communities. This is a vast task, since the number of youth in question is quite big. Given our limited resources, this proposal seeks to raise financial support for our ongoing programs and initiatives, including regular activities: leadership and spiritual formation training, English and critical thinking classes, weekly visit student groups with inputs on spiritual life and human values. Besides, we have been running a yearly special program - Summer Retreats - and Weekend Recollections. The anticipated result of this proposal is to reach and impact more young people in Vietnam for a better equipped preparation for their future, particularly those from marginalized communities who lack access to quality education and spiritual formation.
To continue providing these important programs and initiatives, we are seeking financial support to cover the costs of our ongoing programs, including regular activities, summer retreats, and weekend recollections. Our total anticipated budget for the coming year is 112,896 EUR, which includes both the support requested from this proposal and other sources of local funding.
We believe that our programs and initiatives are crucial to the holistic development of young Catholic people in Vietnam, and we are committed to making them accessible and affordable to all youth we are serving. With your support, we are able to continue to inspire and empower even a larger group of young people who will be rooted in deep faith, matured in human behavior, obtained sound knowledge and endeavored for fruitful mission.
To continue providing these important programs and initiatives, we are seeking financial support to cover the costs of our ongoing programs, including regular activities, summer retreats, and weekend recollections. Our total anticipated budget for the coming year is 112,896 EUR, which includes both the support requested from this proposal and other sources of local funding.
We believe that our programs and initiatives are crucial to the holistic development of young Catholic people in Vietnam, and we are committed to making them accessible and affordable to all youth we are serving. With your support, we are able to continue to inspire and empower even a larger group of young people who will be rooted in deep faith, matured in human behavior, obtained sound knowledge and endeavored for fruitful mission.
SUMMARY
Jesuit Youth Ministry in Vietnam
INTRODUCTION
Jesuit Youth Ministry in Vietnam offers a range of impactful activities to nurture the faith and intellect of Catholic students and young people in Vietnam.
Jesuit Youth Ministry in Vietnam includes two sections: one is to accompany Catholic university students, helping them to follow Jesus' teachings and to live out their faith in the university environment; the other is to work with young people from parishes and those who are not capable of pursuing studying at colleges. This is a nationwide scale of working: any place in which Jesuits are laboring there is a youth and student ministry.
We do the same in Laos where the Province has two communities working: one in Vientiane and the other in Thakhek.
Thus, our goal is like this: Working in close collaboration with other religious and diocesan priests, as well as with Jesuit brothers, the ministry, guided by the four Universal Apostolic Preferences, provides a supportive environment for young people and students to live well, study effectively, and mature in their faith. The ultimate goal is to help students engage in the mission that God has given them, which involves guiding others to God, serving the poor, and protecting the environment.
Who we are
01
Respect
We treat others with dignity and respect, recognizing the inherent worth and value of each person.
02
Knowledge
We pursue excellence in our studies, seeking to gain a deep and comprehensive understanding of the world around us.
03
Faith
We strive to develop a mature and authentic faith, grounded in prayer, reflection, and service to others.
04
Mission
We engage in meaningful and purposeful action, seeking to make a positive impact in the world by serving the needs of others and promoting justice and compassion at the same time.
Our core Value
Our core values include respect, knowledge, faith, and mission. We aim to treat others with dignity and value, pursue excellence in our studies, develop a mature and authentic faith, and make a positive impact in the world by serving the needs of others and promoting justice and compassion.
some activities
What are we doing?
- Our regular activities - Summer retreat program - Weekend recollection -
Leadership, Good Human way of Proceeding and Spiritual Development: We provide various groups of students and young people with regular training programs, covering topics such as leadership, prayer, human values, fruitful methods of study and the like. We also teach them Ignatian spirituality, a powerful framework for personal growth and decision-making rooted in Catholic values. Besides, each group has its own executive board. With these key teams, a focus on leadership and management skills is our priority in action, with the purpose that these young people will be equipped well for the service of their groups.
Leadership, Good Human way of Proceeding and Spiritual Development
We regularly visit different student groups to provide motivational talks and interactive sharing sessions. Our aim is to encourage students to unlock their potential and become the best versions of themselves.
Small Talks and Sharing Sessions
We believe that true education goes beyond the limited scope of the education system in Vietnam. That's why we offer classes in English, critical thinking, method of study, and independent thinking. By equipping students with these valuable skills, we're helping them to become well-rounded, capable individuals in the modern world.
Education Beyond the Classroom
We've set up libraries in several locations, providing students with access to books and other learning resources. This is especially important for those who may not have easy access to such resources in their own communities.
Access to Books and Learning Resources
Our regular activities
Summer retreat program
Every year in July and August, we offer transformative summer retreats for Catholic students and young adults aged 17 to 30. Led by a Jesuit and a team of well-trained in Ignatian Spirituality collaborators, mostly sisters from various congregations, the retreats focus on Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises. We provide the youth with five days of silent prayer, reflection, spiritual sharing aiming at obtaining personal growth. The retreat ends with a fun-filled picnic day, which provides an opportunity for retreatants to connect with one another through conversations, games, and other engaging activities. This retreat is a unique and invaluable experience for young people seeking to deepen their faith and develop their integration in Christ.
Our summer retreats have seen a steady increase in participation among students and young adults over the years. Starting in 1992 with only 20 students, we are proud to share that in 2017, we successfully conducted 20 retreats with an overwhelming participation of 1,423 young people. The number fluctuated a little for the following years. Due to Covid-19, only a small number of these retreats were provided in 2020-2022. This year, 18 retreats are set up for young people throughout the country. For more details, confer the website cited here: https://linhthaogioitre.net/
Apart from the benefit of providing a conducive environment for young participants to deepen their faith and spirituality, the summer retreats are also the occasions for young people to discern their calling to religious life.
Our summer retreats have seen a steady increase in participation among students and young adults over the years. Starting in 1992 with only 20 students, we are proud to share that in 2017, we successfully conducted 20 retreats with an overwhelming participation of 1,423 young people. The number fluctuated a little for the following years. Due to Covid-19, only a small number of these retreats were provided in 2020-2022. This year, 18 retreats are set up for young people throughout the country. For more details, confer the website cited here: https://linhthaogioitre.net/
Apart from the benefit of providing a conducive environment for young participants to deepen their faith and spirituality, the summer retreats are also the occasions for young people to discern their calling to religious life.
It has been our long-time concern that there is a big number of busy young people who cannot attend student summer retreats, though they do want to have a kind of silent recollection. In 2019, therefore we created a program called Weekend Recollection for Busy Young People.
This program starts from September, just after student and youth summer retreats, and finishes at the end of June in the following year, just before the resumption of student and youth summer retreats. We organize one or two weekend recollections every month. It may take one or two days, depending on the availability of the participants. In the seasons of Advent and Lent, there are more weekend recollections. Similar to students’ summer retreats, these weekend recollections are silent prayer and guided by a Jesuit priest, with a great help from well-trained spiritual directors.
For more information about this program, kindly refer to our Fanpage:
https://www.facebook.com/TinhTamCuoiTuan
This program starts from September, just after student and youth summer retreats, and finishes at the end of June in the following year, just before the resumption of student and youth summer retreats. We organize one or two weekend recollections every month. It may take one or two days, depending on the availability of the participants. In the seasons of Advent and Lent, there are more weekend recollections. Similar to students’ summer retreats, these weekend recollections are silent prayer and guided by a Jesuit priest, with a great help from well-trained spiritual directors.
For more information about this program, kindly refer to our Fanpage:
https://www.facebook.com/TinhTamCuoiTuan
Weekend Recollection
Resources
for Youth Ministry
Our youth ministry serves around 3,120 Catholic students across the country. This is the figure of students that we directly serve in different groups throughout the country. If adding the number of youth and other students attending the summer retreats and weekend recollections as indirect beneficiaries of the project, the figure increases up to about 5,000.
However, we have limited resources with only 13 Jesuits involved in the ministry - four priests and nine scholastics and brothers - all of whom work part-time. Recognizing our limitations, we empower capable students to work alongside us as our partners in this mission. They serve as our extended arms, allowing us to reach more student groups and create a bigger impact in the community. The holistic training that students and young people receive from their groups, from summer retreats and weekend recollections lay the foundation for this future leadership.
However, we have limited resources with only 13 Jesuits involved in the ministry - four priests and nine scholastics and brothers - all of whom work part-time. Recognizing our limitations, we empower capable students to work alongside us as our partners in this mission. They serve as our extended arms, allowing us to reach more student groups and create a bigger impact in the community. The holistic training that students and young people receive from their groups, from summer retreats and weekend recollections lay the foundation for this future leadership.
The ministry has set goals in the Ten Year Apostolic Plan of Vietnam Jesuit Province from 2021-2023 to provide spiritual and educational support to Catholic students and young people. The goals include creating a unified vision, fostering student development, strengthening the alumni network, and expanding their reach through student missions in Laos.
GOAL
Our ministry has developed a set of goals in the Ten Year Apostolic Plan of Vietnam Jesuit Province, from 2021 - 2023, aimed at furthering our mission of providing spiritual and educational support to Catholic students and young people across the country. These goals reflect our commitment to creating a more just and compassionate society, grounded in the teachings of the Catholic faith. Through these objectives, we hope to make a meaningful impact on the lives of countless individuals, empowering them to become leaders in their communities and to live out their faith in action:
Create a clear and unified vision for the organization: Our goal is to establish a clear and unified vision for the ministry which will guide our work and ensure that all members of the ministry and those served by the ministry are working towards a common purpose.
Foster integral human development in students: We aim to provide students with the resources and support they need to develop as individuals and achieve their full potential, with a particular emphasis on the Four Universal Apostolic Priorities of the Society of Jesus.
Strengthen the alumni network: We seek to consolidate and develop a support network between alumni and students, providing opportunities for mentorship, networking, and professional development.
Expand our reach through student missions: We plan to establish student missions in universities in Laos, expanding our reach and impact in the region and providing students in this country with opportunities to learn better, to live their faith deeper and to engage in service of Laotian Catholics.
Create a clear and unified vision for the organization: Our goal is to establish a clear and unified vision for the ministry which will guide our work and ensure that all members of the ministry and those served by the ministry are working towards a common purpose.
Foster integral human development in students: We aim to provide students with the resources and support they need to develop as individuals and achieve their full potential, with a particular emphasis on the Four Universal Apostolic Priorities of the Society of Jesus.
Strengthen the alumni network: We seek to consolidate and develop a support network between alumni and students, providing opportunities for mentorship, networking, and professional development.
Expand our reach through student missions: We plan to establish student missions in universities in Laos, expanding our reach and impact in the region and providing students in this country with opportunities to learn better, to live their faith deeper and to engage in service of Laotian Catholics.
Create a clear and unified vision for the organization
Foster integral human development in students
Strengthen the alumni network
Expand our reach through student missions
OUR NEEDS
We face challenges of limited manpower, inadequate facilities, and limited financial resources in carrying out our mission. We aim to overcome these challenges by forming capable students to work with us, collaborating with other religious groups, and seeking funding for training programs, visits to student groups, summer retreats and weekend recollections.
Challenges
Lack of manpower
Lack of Adequate Facilities
Limited Financial Resources
At the time being, we face several challenges in carrying out our above mentioned mission.
1. Lack of manpower
One of our main challenges is the limited resources available to carry out our activities. With only 13 Jesuits working part-time, it is difficult for us to be present to all the student groups, which are in need of guidance and support from experienced Jesuits. This requires us to form capable students to work with us as our far-reaching hands as stated earlier. In the same token, working in collaboration with other religious sisters and brothers is needed in our service of students and young people.
One of our main challenges is the limited resources available to carry out our activities. With only 13 Jesuits working part-time, it is difficult for us to be present to all the student groups, which are in need of guidance and support from experienced Jesuits. This requires us to form capable students to work with us as our far-reaching hands as stated earlier. In the same token, working in collaboration with other religious sisters and brothers is needed in our service of students and young people.
2. Lack of Adequate Facilities
Another challenge we face is the lack of adequate facilities to support our programs. For instance, we offer classes teaching English, critical thinking, and independent thinking, but this requires proper textbooks, teaching materials, and classroom facilities. Moreover, at the moment, we do not have any student offices. To meet and work with students we use any places at hand like parish yard, or college space, etc. For a long time service, and for a more professional level of working, we need to set up at least one office for one place where we have student and youth ministry.
Another challenge we face is the lack of adequate facilities to support our programs. For instance, we offer classes teaching English, critical thinking, and independent thinking, but this requires proper textbooks, teaching materials, and classroom facilities. Moreover, at the moment, we do not have any student offices. To meet and work with students we use any places at hand like parish yard, or college space, etc. For a long time service, and for a more professional level of working, we need to set up at least one office for one place where we have student and youth ministry.
3. Limited Financial Resources
Training programs for executive boards of student groups: We provide regular leadership and Ignatian spirituality training for student leaders, but this requires funding for materials, venue rental, and other expenses.
Visiting different groups of students and providing talks and sharing sessions: We want to reach as many students as possible, and yet, this requires funds for travelling and other related expenses.
Summer retreats and Weekend Recollections: As mentioned earlier, the annual summer retreats provide a unique opportunity for young people to deepen their faith and connect with others, but this requires significant financial support for accommodation, food, equipment, traveling for spiritual companions, administrative fees, and others. Though the participants contribute, we only charge them half of the actual total cost. This is done so as to keep the program affordable for them. The remaining expenses are covered by donations from benefactors within and outside the country.
Budget planning
112,896 EUR
38,200 EUR
1. Regular Activities
33.8%
62,600 EUR
2. Summer Youth Retreat
55.4%
12,096 EUR
3. Weekend recollections
10,8%
WE NEED YOUR HELP
The total budget for the three programs is: 112,896 EUR
We understand that this is a significant amount. That is why we are reaching out to some other organizations for support. If possible, could you sponsor a portion of the Project? How much this part will be is up to your discernment and decision.
On behalf of Vietnam Province and of all the young people as well as the retreatants, I am grateful to you and your province for your kind support, with which we are able to help young people to develop their leadership skills, grow in their faith, and become responsible members of their communities.
May the Lord bless you and be with you always. We keep you in our prayers.
Son Nguyen, SJ
Chairman of the province’s student and youth ministry
Kindly send your donation via Interbank transfer to the bank account of Vietnam Province of the Society of Jesus attached below:
How can I donate?
- VND 046.100.0469919
- USD 046.137.0469929
- EUR 046.114.0469930
- AUD 046.152.0469932
- CAD 046.153.0469935
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