Teresa Hoang of Woodbridge and a parishioner of Holy Martyrs of Vietnam in Arlington was one of five Salesian Lay Missioners commissioned by the Salesians of Don Bosco at a prayer service in August that concluded a six-day retreat at Don Bosco Retreat Center in Haverstraw, N.Y.
The SLM program is sponsored by Salesian Missions of New Rochelle and promoted by the New Rochelle Province. Vice Provincial Father Dominic Tran presided at the service attended by 35 Salesians.
Hoang, 60, immigrated from Vietnam. She is a widow and retired from employment in the federal government. She said she joined the Salesian Lay Missioners because she was “inspired by SLMs’ ways to serve the misfortuned young, the poor, and the sick people, which is following St. John Bosco’s spirit. I have joined the SLMs with the hope I would have the chances to show love and to love Jesus through the misfortuned and suffering people.”
Hoang was missioned to Wau, South Sudan, where three Salesian priests manage a parish, technical school, print shop, youth center, chaplaincies and assorted works for at-risk youths. Hoang said she will “pay attention and listen to them (the less fortunate people at the mission); share the faith with them, let them know and see that they are loved by Jesus, they are valuable and beautiful in God’s eyes.”
