Father Mario Rassiga, sdb, the author of the


The development of the Oratories



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The development of the Oratories


Full of zeal, the confreres soon organized the oratories not only at Thủ Đức but also at Tam Hải and Xuân Hiệp. The confreres who were students at university and the aspirants organized games for the children, gave them catechism lessons and concluded every oratory session by distributing them biscuits and sweets before dismissing them. Besides, we had also oratory programs at other places such as at the prisons and rehabilitation centers.

The trade schools


There were numerous idle children in the streets. The lay brothers in specific formation proposed to Fr. Majcen to open some simple workshops to teach them some useful trades. Fr. Majcen agreed and Fr. Luvisotto obtained from the American camps some useful tools. The lay brothers were happy to help the children and in the meantime to be enriched in their competences.

Masses for the departed on November 2 1974


At the beginning of November 1974, people flocked to the cemeteries, the Military Cemetery of Biên Hòa in particular, to visit and pray for their loved ones who had be killed in this war.

The Salesian community of Thủ Đức, headed by Fr. Majcen, also went to our Salesian Cemetery at Tam Hải to pray for our departed confreres. They stood and prayed before the tomb of Bro. Peter Nguyễn Anh Hùng, an assistant at Gò Vấp School, who had just been drown in swimming in May 1974.

We also prayed the rosary for our departed, especially for Mgr. Kerec, SDB, a missionary in Guangsi, China, who died in 1974; Fr. Braga, died in 1971; Mgr. Hiền, 1974; Mgr. Cassaigne, 1974; Fr. Dupont, 1945; Bro. Borri, 1966.

Thanksgiving Mass


Fr. Majcen was so happy to attend the thanksgiving Mass of his two newly ordained priests, Fr. Peter Đệ and Fr. Michael Phùng who had just graduated from the Pius X Pontifical Atheneum.

Christmas 1974


Christmas was celebrated solemnly as in previous years. Among our guests was a Buddhist monk named Thích Trí Dũng, head of a pagoda near our house. He wanted to attend our midnight Mass and also our Christmas gifts gathering. He was very happy to get a gift.

The last canonical visit of the Provincial Fr. Machuy


In the visit, we deliberated on the last details of our upcoming spit from the Hong Kong province. Fr. Machuy wanted the return of all the Chinese confreres to Hong Kong, but an agreement was made to keep some of these confreres in Vietnam for some time. There was a consultation on the choice of the possible delegate of the Rector Major in Vietnam and his vicar. The consultation gave two names: Fr. Massimino and Fr. Majcen as delegate and Fr. Ty and Fr. Hiên as vice-delegate.

Then they went to Hong Kong: Fr. Massimino and Fr. Ty for a consultation meeting regarding SDB Vietnam, while Fr. Mario Acquistapace and Musso to stay there permanently. Fr. Majcen was very sorry that he hadn’t known that Fr. Mario would never return to Vietnam, otherwise he would have a ceremony held to show our gratitude to Fr. Mario for all he had done to Vietnam for so many years, first as a Provincial (1952-58), then as Provincial Delegate for Vietnam (1958-74). He was a great apostle of Mary Help of Christians, the Mother of Don Bosco. Fr. Majcen and all Vietnamese Salesians are immensely grateful to Fr. Mario Acquistapace.


Vietnam became a Delegation of the Rector Major


Vietnam had long been prepared to be split from the Hong Kong Province, and now this was approved by the Rector Major, Fr. Ricceri by a decree dated July 12 1974.

The Vietnamese Delegation comprised the following communities:



  1. Đà Lạt: The Studentate for Philosophy and Theology. Rector: Fr. Massimino.

  2. Trạm Hành: The Novitiate. Novice Master: Fr. King.

  3. Trạm Hành: The Apostolic School. Rector: Fr. Hiên.

  4. Gò Vấp: The Technical School. Rector: Fr. Ty.

  5. Tam Hải: Youth Center. Fr. Donders.

  6. Thủ Đức: Interreligious Aspirantate – Specific Formation for Lay Brothers – Hostel for University Confreres. Rector: Fr. Majcen.

Fr. Luigi Massimino was appointed Delegate of the Rector Major. Fr. Ty: Vicar.

Fr. Majcen’s tasks at Thủ Đức in 1974-75


Fr. Majcen’s tasks included: management of the interreligious aspirante; management of the Hostels for the lay brothers in specific formation and university Salesian students; management of the Oratory; spiritual director for the FMA and their oratory; in charge of the Volunteers of Don Bosco (VDB). These were very heavy tasks; in addition, he had also responsible for the correspondence with benefactors in Vietnam and abroad. In the house, he had Fr. Luvisotto, vice-rector and economer, as a very good helper. Besides, Fr. Fabiano Hào and Fr. Michael Phùng were house councilors. Fr. Peter Aarts and Fr. Michael Bảo were confessors. The total number of confreres was 27.

Fr. Majcen was septuagenian


Fr. Majcen’s 70th birth day was celebrated very solemnly. Fr. Ty had an initiative to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the beginning of Salesian works in Vietnam and the event of the split of Vietnam from the Chinese Province. Invited were representatives from every house, the FMAs, the VDBs, and the president of the past pupils. The celebration took place in great joy and solemnity. No one expected it would be the last great celebration at Thủ Đức. In fact, tragedy fell on Vietnam six months later.



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