On 28 June, our MSSP community in the Philippines celebrated a joyful occasion as one of our brothers, Br. Anthony Cuong Pham from Vietnam, made his perpetual profession within the Society. He is the second Vietnamese member to take perpetual vows with us.
Some of Br. Anthony’s family members were present for this special moment, along with the Pauline Lay Missionaries associated with our community and several friends of both Br. Anthony and the Society.
The profession took place in a chapel dedicated to the Nativity, within the cathedral complex of Cubao, the diocese where our formation house in Manila is located. The liturgy was led by Fr. Hector Attard MSSP, Regional Superior of the Philippines, and concelebrated by MSSP priests serving in the Philippines as well as other priest friends of Br. Anthony. His fellow MSSP brothers also had a role in the liturgy.
In his thanksgiving speech, Br. Anthony expressed heartfelt gratitude to all who had supported him in reaching this milestone. He also recalled fondly his time studying Philosophy at the University of Malta.
We thank the Lord for the gift of vocation given to Br. Anthony, calling him to be a missionary religious within the Missionary Society of St. Paul. We also extend our gratitude to our benefactors, whose generosity makes it possible to form young men like him. We pray that the Lord will continue to guide Br. Anthony Cuong as he journeys towards priesthood, and that the dream of our beloved Founder, Giuseppe De Piro—to see more heralds of the Gospel—will continue to flourish.