Today I had lunch with Fr. Hoa, a member of my first English class in Phat Diem. It was the day of the feast of John the Baptist, are. Hoa's patron saint. So as is the custom, there was food and drink. Here he is (in the blue shirt) being lauded by friends.
The room was filled with the men for whom he is spiritual director. They range from high school students to seminarians to deacons and priests. Fr. Hoa is easy to like, relaxed and easy going, but firm when he needs to be. He is an excellent role model for young men.
With Fr. Hoa in the right, you can get a better idea of the food. All is very simple and bland, but the spices are in the table, sauces and the like, that you can add to make the taste your own. This really helps an American. Oh, and the bread is Out of courtesy to me...they know I love it.
Here I am with Fr. Hoa. He is pastor of Khiet Ky parish along with overseeing a growing mission parish nearby. All told, he has 2,900 Catholics between the two. Luckily, there are many men in the pipeline to the priesthood. At the present moment, Bishop Joseph figures that all the parishes will be full staffed with priest within ten years. That's far different from our situation in the U.S.
Here are the priests and seminarians I am good friends with.
Here is Nam Vu working his keyboard. Now entering 8th grade, he is quite the conversationalist. It's hard to believe that I have kn...