Hello dear friends,

Welcome to the month of September. I’m sure by now many of you have started school already. I said a prayer for all the students today. I pray that their school year will be filled with wonderful discoveries, meaningful learning experiences and spiritual enlightenment as well. May God guide you and protect you every step of the way. May the knowledge which you acquire in school eventually reveals to you how awesome and magnificent our Creator is.

Dear friends, as you begin the new school year, please remember to ask Jesus to walk with you and teach you how to learn the best way that you can. For it is Jesus who is truly The Teacher of all teachers and your most loyal Companion. A lot of times, going to school can be very stressful. Not only are there lots of peer pressure to act, talk and dress certain ways, there are also the pressure of getting good grades, making the team, getting along with friends and teachers.. The one person you need the most to help you through all these tough hurdles is none other than Jesus. Hang on to him, invite him to journey with you and ask him to help you. Talk to him like you talk to a dear friend. Tell him about your good times as well as your bad time. Try to listen to him from the depth of you heart, through prayers and through the Bible. Let your heart and mind be silent and be "in tuned" to Jesus. I promise you, He will reveal Himself to you through many people and things that occur around you every day, if you’d only listen and be aware of His Presence. Once you recognize that God is with you, you’ll feel much more strengthen and ready to face the challenges ahead of you. Know that with Jesus walking by your side, you’re in good hands!

In this month’s column, you will find a reflection reading by Franciscan Brother Zaragoza Ruffino, OFM, on the World Youth Day 2002 held in Toronto last July. He is a liturgist and a musician. He worked hard for the project "Chung Lời Tán Tụng," which includes a song book and a set of 2 CDs recording some popular Vietnamese and English hymns in both languages. Since September 7^th marks the 5^th anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa Calcutta, a famous religious sister and a holy woman who worked among the poor in India and around the world, I also include an article about her life and her thoughts written by Brother Lê Trọng Hùng a Redempotorist seminarian. I hope you enjoy both readings.

Have a great month and enjoy school.

Your friend,

Tess Nguyen

Every two or three years, Pope John Paul II invites youth and young adults from around the world to join him for a week of prayer, reflection and celebration. The previous World Youth Days have been in Rome, Italy (1985), Buenos Aires, Argentina (1987), Santiago de Compostela, Spain (1989), Czestochowa, Poland (1991), Denver, USA (1993), Paris, France (1995), Manila, Philippines (1997), and Rome, Italy (2000). The next gathering was going to happen in Canada in July of 2002. A music publishing company from Portland, Oregon Catholic Press, was sending some of their best singers and composers to participate in the concerts and prayer services. They also wanted to send a Vietnamese singer, and invited me to be his piano accompanist and travel companion.

So, for my first time, I was headed to Toronto, Canada to join over 300,000 youth from around the world. The sight was unbelievable. High energy youth waved flags from their country as they traveled down the streets or through the underground subways. People who did not even speak each other’s language shared songs, shared blessings and prayers and signed their names on the red covers of the official WYD backpacks we all received.

Attending this inspirational week were over 3,000 Vietnamese, arriving from around the world. They had their own special morning faith sharing sessions and a "Vietnamese village" on one side of the city where they gathered as a language group. But the participants from every country and language all gathered for special ceremonies: an Opening Mass on Tuesday afternoon (July 23), welcoming the Pope on Thursday (July 25), an outdoor vigil Saturday night (July 27), and Sunday morning Eucharist (July 28). On Friday (July 26), there was a Stations of the Cross through downtown Toronto. While waiting, often groups would gather in circles and sing songs or play games. At one location, a group of Vietnamese were in a circle enjoying each other’s company. As outsiders came around to watch, the Vietnamese decided to open up their circle and teach the Canadians and Europeans their games. Then they asked the non-Vietnamese to teach them some of their games. In the midst of endless activities and events throughout the week, these simple moments of intercultural exchanges brought the biggest smile to my face.

The Vietnamese also had opportunities to share some of their culture on some of the stages that were set up throughout the city for special Youth Festivals. Some youth from San Jose, California, under the leadership of a Salesian Brother, shared some music and drumming. On Wednesday (July 24), members of a Vietnamese college organization in Orange County, shared songs and a traditional sacred dance. They were led by soloist Tien Dung Tran and an American singer/guitarist Jesse Manibusan. Bilingual songs from a new collection, called "Chung Loi Tan Tung" were shared, so that the international audience on the outdoor field heard Vietnamese melodies with both Vietnamese and English. The youth were especially impressed with the liturgical dance by some of the young men and women. As soon as they started, numerous video cameras were raised up in the crowd to record this traditional Vietnamese style of dance, never seen before by many of the viewers.

One highlight for singer Tien Dung was being on the main area stage for an international concert on Wednesday night (July 24). There were singers from France, Spain, Canada, United States, Poland, etc. The only Asian singer was Vietnamese, and he sang one Marian song by the famous composer, Kim Long. But the ultimate honor was to sing at the Saturday vigil, in front of the Pope and hundreds of thousands of participants. On Sunday morning (July 28), for the final song of the Eucharist at the Closing Mass, singers from various countries did the theme song "The Light of the World" in various languages. Three soloists from Toronto sang the Vietnamese verse, as the Asian contribution to this international event. How proud the Vietnamese must have been to have the song offered to the Pope in their own language!

I met some youth from San Jose in the airport on Sunday night (July 28), as they headed home. They were exhausted. They had slept outside on Downsview Land for the Saturday vigil, and had stayed there, through the morning rain, to greet the Pope again for the outdoor closing liturgy. But they were beaming. They had met and prayed with other youth from around the world, strengthening their faith and Catholic identity. Their own group had also come closer by traveling this pilgrimage together. Following the Pope’s call, they truly felt like they were inspired to be "the Light of the World, the Salt of the Earth" for our troubled, confused, and often pain-filled society. See you in Cologne, Germany in 2005?


(The official CD for WYD, "The Light of the World" with upbeat music from around the world, is available from Oregon Catholic Press, 1/800/LITURGY, or go to ocp.org. The "Chung Loi Tan Tung" CD of bilingual Vietnamese and American songs is available from Nguyệt San Ðức Mẹ Hằng Cứu Giúp, 562/424-2041.)