This year 2025, Rector Major of Salesians of Don Bosco, has a good news for Mongolia: He sent 1 new missionary here. We prepared a brief interview with br. Simon, who was called by God to Mongolia and who is coming here soon.
1. Please, can you share with us about your family, childhood and growth in faith?
My name is Simon Nguyen Thanh Sang. I come from Vietnam and I was born into a large family. My family has 9 people: my parents, 3 brothers, 2 sisters, 1 younger sister and me.
I grew up in an atmosphere of faith since childhood. When I was a child, I learned catechism and attended Mass every Sunday. That place has a deep tradition of faith, where most of the neighbors are Christians. They support each other in faith, encourage each other to participate in parish activities. They keep the traditions from the missionaries very well, what I remember most is that every month of the Rosary, they pray together throughout that month. Thanks to that, my life of faith is also nourished and developed.
2. Where did you meet the Salesians and Don Bosco? Why did you become a Salesian?
After graduating from high school, I had the opportunity to study in Ho Chi Minh City and live in a nearby SDB community. At first, I only considered the community as a convenient place to live for my studies in the city. I had no intention of becoming a religious. In the Aspirant’s house, I lived, shared, and studied together very happily with my brothers. And after every Rosary hour, the priests or Brothers gave us a “good night talk”, a time that I really enjoyed. Day by day, I was gradually moved and at that time I thought about the vocation of consecrating to SDB. And a few years later, after graduating from university, I was very confused about my vocation, either to go home to find a job, then get married, or to enter the pre-novitiate. During that time, with the discernment of the priest in charge, I decided to continue to explore my vocation.
Although I was not yet convinced of my calling to consecrate myself, I still wanted to find out what God really wanted from me. Through the pre-novitiate period, I discovered many things about myself, about the Salesian spirit and about the life of the brothers. Especially during the Novitiate period, I was guided and clearly discerned about my vocation through private prayer hours before the Eucharist. Through that, I realized that I was called to consecrate myself in the Salesian vocation of Don Bosco and I made my first vows in 2022.
3. What do you like and admire about Don Bosco?
What I like and admire about Don Bosco is his cheerful optimism. It was this spirit that helped him courageously face many difficulties and challenges in his time to serve God’s will. He lived this spirit throughout his life and I realized that I need to learn this virtue because it is very necessary in today’s time, an age where young people lose hope. And especially, it is also very necessary for my life.
4. How did you find your missionary vocation? Why would you like to be a missionary?
During the 2 years of pre-novitiate, I studied and came into contact with many spiritual books, but I don’t understand why I was more interested in books related to missionary work. At first, I thought it was simply my curiosity, my love of discovering new things in a certain place. Then, when I came to the Novitiate, in addition to the stories in the books, I heard many real missionary stories from the SDB. At those times, it seemed like there was something in me, it was not just curiosity anymore, but I thought maybe it was something more noble. During this time, I also watched many holy films, including the film of Father Lee, the missionary of Sudan, and other films. That feeling, that urge became stronger and stronger, and I affirmed that it was no longer curiosity. I
shared it with my Novice Master, and he invited me to pray more. And so I entered the post-novitiate period, and I also prayed that I might have a missionary vocation. Because I also heard that the life of a missionary is not easy, so there are times when I want to forget that urge, but it makes me lose peace, and only when I accept it as a calling do I feel peace. At those times, I remember a missionary father who shared his vocation, there is a saying that I always remember: if God has chosen, you can not escape. So after 3 years of philosophy, I also decided to commit myself to the missionary vocation. I wrote an application to go on a mission and was accepted.
5. Are you surprised that you are sent to Mongolia? What do you know about Mongolia? What do you expect there?
When I heard that I would be sent to Mongolia, I was both happy and a little worried, because I was told that the weather there was quite harsh. However, I know that Mongolia has a long tradition of bravery on the steppe and is sensitive to religion. So, I hope that I will adapt soon and live spiritual Salesian dynamically among the people in Mongolia.
6. What is your “life motto” or a favorite Bible verse?
One of my favorite bible verses is “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9). It is a promise for those who work for God. It reminds me that God is with me wherever, anytime. He called me to be stronger in consecrated life and trust in Him.
