February is the month of the conversion of St. Camillus, and it is also a good opportunity for camillians to reflect and understand that we all need to convert day by day.

Here in Sampran, in the Church dedicated to St. Camillus, on February 17th, we celebrated and experienced a special moment of grace: three young men decided to dedicate their lives permanently to the service of our Charism. PHANVILAI WEERAWAT Michael, KAEWPHUANG WORAWAT Andrew, and WANGTHIYOO RITTHIPON Joseph made their solemn profession of the 4 vows: poverty, chastity, and obedience in order to serve the sick even at the risk of their own lives.

The celebration was organized in collaboration with the entire religious community and the staff of our Elderly Care Center. We had excellent collaboration from benefactors and Catholics from the parishes of St. Peter and the Ascension; the choir honoured the celebration with its performance, which I would define as angelic, and also with the help of many families who committed to preparing food for all the participants.

There was a large participation of (over 50) priests, male and female religious, and faithful of over 500 people. The celebration was presided over by the Provincial, Fr. Paul Cherdchai Lertjitlekha, who, in his sobriety, emphasized the importance of the choice and the value of the 4 vows. As always, the moment of detachment from the world was emphasized, giving the professed the opportunity to greet their families… emotions made all wet their faces with tears!

We thank the Lord for giving us, in such a difficult time for vocations, this great gift because “the harvest is always plentiful, but the laborers are few”; “let us pray to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest.”

To the three new brothers and their two Vietnamese companions: Nguyen Vu Duc Khoi and Tran Thanh Tai, who professed earlier, we wish a fruitful pastoral life lived in the joy of serving the Lord in the weakest.

On February 18th, we had another moment of grace, as the four new Vietnamese priests celebrated their first Holy Mass in our community. Fr. Nguyen Thien Thai, Fr. Nguyen Phi Ky, Fr. Luu Ngoc Hung, and Fr. Pham Van Truong were ordained last December and wanted to be present at the solemn professions of their Thai brothers. All four received much of their training here in Sampran and still feel very connected and grateful. We also offer them all our support and wish them a prosperous apostolate.

Fr. Sante Tocchetto MI