Last year I visited Vietnam twice and each time was blessed with special experiences at Hoi An Cathedral.
The first was a wonderful encounter on 7th March with a group of pilgrims and their priest from Holy Family Como Parish. Perth, Australia, celebrating the Jubilee year; four of them were flying to Rome later that day for an arranged audience with Pope Francis, who unfortunately was ill in hospital at that time. They invited me to walk the Stations of the Cross in the Cathedral grounds and, on learning my name, asked me to read Veronica wiping the face of Jesus. Afterwards, a few of us went into the chapel for Adoration and I surprised myself by singing aloud spontaneously ” O Sacrament most Holy…” three times by myself. I was given a pilgrim badge and their church badge (photo) which made me feel so welcome and thankful as a Catholic and as a pilgrim.
The second significant episode in Hoi An Cathedral was on 29th May, The Ascension. Arriving early, I was able to take photos of these beautiful girls rehearsing their dance in front of Our Lady’s Grotto. They danced to Vietnamese music at the beginning of the Mass and I was moved by their elegance and how the inclusion of worship dance and music seemed so natural within the worshipping and thanksgiving to Our Lord; the open-air Mass, the singing and the Cathedral shining against the evening sky was truly poetic.
I met a newly converted young lady from Hong Kong at the Mass with whom I had dinner with afterwards. I was so impressed by her faith and courage to convert to Catholicism as her parents are Buddhists.
It is true that leaving possessions and trappings behind when we travel allows us to open to the presence of Our Lord in spontaneous new encounters and experiences.
Veronica Rochford, Southbourne Section, Portsmouth Branch
