Staff Immersion

In the September school holidays, Ms Geraldine Smith and I were selected to spend two weeks assisting the RNDM Sisters with their English at their House in Thi Nghe, Ho chi Minh City, Viet Nam. This community of 24 Nuns runs a Kindergarten on the site but is the home of the Temporary Professed Sisters. All have taken their First Vows and are spending two years studying theology before commencing two year on mission and a further two years preparing for their final vows. They are a dedicated and delightful group.

Our day began with prayers at 4.55 am and then Mass. After an early breakfast. We prepared for morning classes. Ged assisted in the kindergarten, while I assisted a third year Sister with preparation for an International English Examination. After Lunch, when the other sisters had returned from College, we both had classes of 7 and 8 for conversational English.

During our time with this time with the Community, we were also privileged to see some of their missionary work at the floating Village at Song Dat, where the Cambodian Refugees live without recognition from the Government and their basic needs are assisted by Sister Kim Lan. We visited the Thu Doc where the province is administered from and which houses the Students, Aspirants, Postulants as well as a large Kindergarten.

We had fun taking the Sisters, to the Cathedral, Saigon Zoo and sharing their entire day with them. This was a wonderful experience, and we would both be happy to return and assist again. Thank you to the Sister Bic Thuy and the all the sisters for their warm hospitality and to the school for providing us with this opportunity.

ROSALIND MCMORROW