To: Very Rev. Fr. Ryszard Bożek, C.Ss.R. Provincial Superior of Warsaw

Reverend and Dear Fr. Provincial, In these days of social turmoil in Vietnam, while we are undergoing hardship and suffering, your letter has brought to us, from your beloved country Poland that had had the same experience in the past, so precious and so great a spiritual support. Your concrete initiative and prayer have witnessed in very tangible way your fraternal solicitude for and solidarity to all our confreres. All these have given us a very great comfort and strength.

On behalf of the entire Province of Vietnam, I’d like to thank sincerely you and all our dear Polish confreres, who are our brothers in the same spiritual Alphonsian family. It is our Father Alphonsus’ spirituality itself that has gathered us and has immerged us in the Redemption of Christ. It has directed and has lead us to the poor and the most abandoned. It has helped us to hear the desperate cry of the victims of social injustice for their legitimate right for living and surviving as human persons with true human dignity. We are well aware that to be faithful to such Redemptorist mission, that is to opt for our poor, oppressed brothers and sister, we have to pay a very costly price. We have already paid for it. We are ready to continue to pay for it.

The fraternal solidarity that the Province of Warsaw has shown us through your letter and through all concrete actions you have realized is invaluable. Through you and our Polish confreres, we have also received deep compassion and love from the Catholic Church in Poland. We are deeply gratitude to the Episcopal Conference of Poland and to its Missionary Commission for the spiritual communion and the prayer for the Church in Vietnam, especial for the Vietnamese Redemptorist. We know that these will be manifested tangibly with the Prayer Vigil on February 4th by all the Polish Catholics. This prayer and spiritual unity constitute an important source of strength that will help us to be generous and faithful in our mission of witnessing for our Christ-Redeemer.

Please be reassured that our confreres in the Warsaw’s Province have a very special place in our hearts and our prayers, particularly during the whole time of your Provincial Chapter.

May the Holy Spirit always keep us one in love and united in our Redemptorist mission. May our Christ Redeemer continue to lead us through the intercession of our Lady of Perpetual Help, Saint Alphonsus, Saint Clement and brother Marvel Văn.

With fraternal love in our Most Redeemer,

R.P. Vncent Pham Trung Thanh, C.Ss.R

Provincial superior