Hung Hoa – The grounds of the Pastoral Center were abuzz with a joyful atmosphere as over 800 young people from various parishes gathered for the Day of Religious Vocation Awareness in the year 2026 under the theme of “Here I am, send me!” which was organized by the Diocese of Hung Hoa in Northern Vietnam.
At the opening of the program, july 8 2026, Bishop Dominic Hoang Minh Tien encouraged the young people to open their hearts to listen to the voice of God and to boldly embark on the journey of discovering their vocation with a spirit of simplicity and generosity.
Introduction to the vocation, discernment, addressing questions, and sharing one’s heart are the four essential steps in the Journey of Vocation Discovery that young attendants must undergo. Each step offers various contents that help the attendants of this vocational awareness gain a much more knowledge of priestly and consecrated life, in the meantime it also provides an opportunity to share their heartfelt concerns, questions, and innermost aspirations as you seek God’s will.
Currently there are 11 major seminaries for training Catholic priests in three archdioceses —Hanoi, Hue, and Saigon—and nearly 300 religious congregations operating within 27 dioceses. The number of vocations remains abundant in the Church of Vietnam, with hundreds of new seminarians and aspirants annually in each diocese. However, signs of decline are growing in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Consequently, it is important to continue organizing annual “vocation awareness days” in parishes across the country – typically falls on the Sunday of Good Shepherd – to create an environment where young Catholics can encounter, discern, and discover God’s will regarding the consecrated life, while also gaining the information, spiritual guidance, and practical experience needed to respond to the call to religious life with confidence and generosity.
“Vocation is a mystery that is entirely originated from God’s initiative, rather than relying on human talent or ability. The matter is to listen to God’s voice, respond generously to His call, and ceaselessly nurture a personal life of holiness”: emphasized by Bishop Dominic Hoang Minh Tien of Hung Hoa Diocese during the recent gathering for young people exploring the consecrated life.
Most young Catholics who are aspiring to religious life normally face questions and anxieties.
“God calls those who He chooses and the ones who open their hearts and yearn for holiness—and He calls them to proclaim the Gospel,” Bishop Dominic stated in his homily. He further affirmed that no one can become a true priest or religious without striving for holiness every single day. By nurturing this aspiration and allowing God to guide them, young people can more easily discern God’s will and courageously follow the path that He has prepared for them.
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