English 
At the beginning of the new year 2025, I, along with two teachers and thirteen students from St Joseph’s Higher Secondary School run by Caritas, embarked on a five-day pilgrimage to Vietnam. This journey was a time to reflect and acknowledge the unconditional mercy, love, peace and hope that God bestows on us through our encounters with others along the way.
Ho Chi Minh City welcomed us with bright and beautiful weather. A tourist minibus was arranged from the airport for our five-day trip. A local tour guide, who spoke Cantonese, led the way and gave meaningful explanations of each site we visited. The busy streets of Ho Chi Minh City were filled with motorbikes.
Our pilgrimage began with a visit to Song Vinh Church and later to Cap Saint Jacques Church, where we attended Holy Mass. Of the thirteen students, only one was Catholic, but their interest and curiosity to explore and meet the Lord was evident as they showed respect and reverence for the Holy Presence of God in each church.
Visits to the History Museum and the War Remnants Museum helped us to understand the serious impact of the war on the Vietnamese people. Some students, while sharing their experiences, mentioned their happiness to be in a safe place. For me, the most moving moment was visiting the Cu Chi tunnels. During the war, these tunnels allowed the Viet Cong to move undetected, to pass under enemy troops, to disappear, and later to ambush them from behind. Crouching in a tunnel barely a metre high, I felt dizzy and out of breath, but I gained a sense of what the Viet Cong had endured during the war.
Visiting these various war sites gave me a real sense of both the horrors of war and the extraordinary lengths people will go to achieve success today.
Perhaps the highlight of our pilgrimage was our visit to an orphanage. It was a heart-wrenching and at the same time heart-warming experience that offered a profound insight into the lives of children who have faced adversity at a young age. Walking through the doors of the orphanage, I was swept up in a whirlwind of emotions – witnessing the rejection and lack of parental love, as well as the effects of war that continue to affect the lives of Vietnamese children born with deformities.
Although we did not speak the local language, the language of love and affection created a bond with these children. We also felt that our seemingly insignificant actions had a profound impact on the emotional wellbeing of these vulnerable children who had experienced loss and hardship. This unique and meaningful experience renewed our hope and made us feel how blessed we are.
I thank God for always being with me and for giving me many opportunities to deepen my faith and encounter His love. I pray that we will all cultivate a sacrificial lifestyle that will enable us to welcome and reach out to those in need in our community and society.
Sr. Shinoby Thomas Olickal, Hong Kong
