The La Salle Communities in Phu Son and Tan Cang
In 1970 the District of Saigon had bought 2 properties. One in Phu Son, about 15 acres, 20 miles from Saigon, and another piece in Tan Cang, about 40 acres, 22 miles from Saigon.
On the La Salle Phu Son land, there was a small 3 bedroom house with lots of fruit trees. An obstacle to the hygienic environment was, along the common fences, a large farm for raising pigs. After April 30, 1975, this farm had been confiscated and had become a state-run farm. Employees, of course, were newcomers from the North. Thus, houses for their families required necessary spaces. The La Salle Phu Son land, therefore, was occupied then reduced to less than 5 acres. To preserve or safeguard the remaining land, a new community was formed. Brother Hubert voluntarily accepted the role of Director. Brother Ignace joined him.
Brother Ignace Nguyen Cong Hung, in his 30s, was very knowledgeable in many area of activities, especially in composing songs and playing the guitar. His talent attracted young people in the neighborhood. He then formed a choir for the liturgical services at the church of this small parish. Young people used to come to the Brothers’ home for practicing or for preparing for certain celebrations at the church.
During one late evening, while Brother Ignace was training three young boys to play the guitar, a group of policemen came. Brother Hubert, Director and head of the family-register, was very familiar with such a "visit." He greeted them and presented the family-register. One of the policemen said to the young boys, "Go home, everybody!" They left. The chief of the group had read the names on the family-register, then looked at Brother Ignace and asked, "What is your name?"
" Hung"
" Full name?"
" Nguyen Cong Hung"
" Follow me to the police station!"
Brother Ignace followed them and didn’t return. Nobody knew why and what had happened to him [
Several months later Brother Ignace’s family was informed that he had been in the re-education camp and that the family could go visit him, without mentioning the reason why he had been arrested and put in re-education camp. Three years later he was released. The very simple reason was that "the police had found out that Brother Ignace was NOT the one, whose full name is also ‘Nguyen Cong Hung’ that the police wanted!"] Since then, Brother Hubert lived, alone, at the La Salle Phu Son Community. He and Brother Lucien, Visitor, too, felt something insecure, even dangerous for him. A week later, Brother Lucien agreed to move Brother Hubert to La Salle Mai Thon, giving the house to Providence on the one side, on the other side waiting for the opportunity to encourage some volunteer younger Brothers to move there.The opportunity came when the new government decreed on June 1976 that "For the priest, go back to church! For the Sisters and Brothers, go back to the convent! Leave the schools for the ‘socialist society’." (The decree was from the National Education Service. Its contents were told by the principal only to "whom it may concern.") Wasn’t it a good opportunity to have more Brothers willy-nilly available for "the fields of the Lord?" [
You might wonder "If so, people were free to move any where they want to?" - Absolutely NOT. But within the law, there is a split: the corruption or paying a bribe, especially under the communist government, had been such a split. The bribe brought results. In addition, the Phu Son and Tan Cang area had been considered as a "New Economic Zone." The problem in regards to legal documents, e.g. family-register, or "moving permit," etc. were easily resolved than in the city.] Thanks to such a decree, that La Salle Phu Son’s remaining property has been intact until now.About 3km (less than 2 miles) from La Salle Phu Son, another larger property, La Salle Tan Cang, belonged to the La Salle District of Saigon. It had been an unfrequented area, good for nothing but planting Bermuda grass in order to produce food for domestic animals.
Like La Salle Phu Son, the large property at La Salle Tan Cang was occupied legally by new immigrants from the North and reduced to less than 10 acres. At the beginning a young Brother, Brother Simon Ho, voluntarily accepted the role of Director of the community. Some others - young Brothers - joined him. When the above mentioned decree had been effective, four more Brothers became members of the La Salle Tan Cang Community. The whole community of 6 members shared a (6mx8m) hut , rudimentarily built for their living. There was no electricity nor water.
The Brothers tried to cultivate potatoes, especially manioc and corn for their food supplies. Brother Simon, Director, who had been an expert in raising rabbits and other domestic animals, contributed more ingredients to the community’s daily meal. In addition, Brother Lucien, Visitor, provided the community with 2 cows that should produce profits in many ways. Each year, each cow could give birth to one calf. Moreover, Brother Joseph Trien, who had learned how to use these cows in farming, could bring to the community certain monetary income by doing the tilling in the appropriate season for the neighbors who hired him to do it.
This mode of life seemed "so far so good" in terms of existence, but it was really boring and full of stress, especially for older Brothers who had been with young students for such a long time. Some Brothers were depressed. Individual depression is normally contagious in the collective environment. The first thought that came to their mind was, "Being a Brother, now and here, isn’t it nonsense?" In any circumstance, the argument for and from ordinary people would be just an argument which could be solved and no questions asked further. For intellectual people, things would not happen in that way. Therefore, each one tried to find out a way to solve for himself such a personal situation.
Some younger Brothers could find a way to flee overseas. Two older Brothers, Epiphane and Albin, returned to La Salle Duc Minh, where they tutored some students, of course clandestinely. Brother Medard, in his 60s, continued to feed two cows with grass that, wandering around the area with his tools, he had found. But he couldn’t stand for a long time, so in the end, he returned to La Salle Mai Thon Retreat House. He passed away in the building that dramatically sank to the bottom of the river on May 25, 1989, in the company of 4 of his "confreres," Brothers Amédée Minh, Samuel Thien, Chrysologue Le, and Léonard Luu.
Brother Simon, Director, left the Congregation after several months of confronting face to face the reality of a hard life-style. Brother Joseph Trien, alone, took responsibility as Director, as head of family-register and of the Community as a whole. He deserved admiration and acknowledgment from the whole District.
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The Community at Ly Tran Quan Street,
which was founded immediately on April 30, 1975, was composed of Brother Bruno, former Visitor, Brothers Philippe, Antoine and Jean Baptiste. The style of life of this community had been relatively more comfortable than other communities; perhaps many friends had come to assist them.A few months later, Brothers Antoine and Jean Baptiste left the Congregation and returned home. However, they were still in close contact with the Brothers, particularly with the community at Ly Tran Quang.
Besides the help and assistance from former students or friends, Brother Philippe had received money in tutoring some students, probably from high ranking families at that time. A year later, he left the Congregation and got married to his "former student," who seemingly was from one of these high ranking families.
Brother Bruno, former Visitor, joined the community at the Provincialate at 53B Nguyen Du Street. He passed away on December 28, 1993.
***
The greatest concern of the La Salle District of Saigon in general, and of Brother Lucien, Visitor in particular, was the La Salle Retreat House Community at Mai Thon. Every Brother had agreed to do anything he could to provide the Old Brothers with whatever they needed for their living. "They deserved it!"
There were 20 Old Brothers in their seventies and above, 5 Brothers in their fifties to seventies, and 2 Brothers less than 40 years old, Brother Pierre Long and Michael Thai. Brother Michael Thai was head of a unique family-register of 27 members.
The large property of Mai Thon had been gradually reduced from more than 20 acres to about 5 acres. Brother Pierre Long had taken care in exploring about 300m
2 for a rice-field, providing and thus assuring "white rice" every day for the Community, especially for the Old Brothers. When it was time for the harvest, Brother Pierre Long invited younger Brothers in the area of Saigon and the La Salle Sisters to harvest the rice.Once the harvest had been over, Brother Pierre Long immediately hired farmers to prepare for the next farming season. [
Brother Pierre Long had been the first to hear a big sound caused by the building dramatically sinking deep into the river. The rescuers came, and a few minutes later, brought up two bodies to the river shore and declared, "No more!" then left the scene. During the early morning of that day, Brothers Michel and Pierre brought flashlights, and dove deep into the sunken building. Brother Pierre had emerged, then shouted, "Oh my God! There are other bodies down there which were tied to the door frames." He, then, brought scissors and knives, and with the help of Brother Michel, brought up three more bodies. People who had surrounded the dead Brothers were appalled, whispered and commented about the atrocity of the previous rescuers. They condemned the officials of the government about that matter. To calm such rumor, the People’s Committee sent its journalists to the scene. Before interviewing people, they wanted to meet Brother Pierre behind closed doors. They requested that Brother Pierre clearly declare that "there is no such thing that happened." But Brother Pierre, frankly and strongly, replied, "the truth is the truth." After this event, Brother Pierre was in trouble in getting a passport for his studies in Rome.]Like the La Salle Tan Cang Community, Brother Lucien, Visitor, relied on Brother Honorat, in his sixties, to take care of raising two cows that, fortunately, had given birth to two calves. A profit of 100%! Brother Visitor also relied on a La Salle Sister in raising pigs, poultry, rabbits, etc. that brought funds for the community.
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The Provincialate Community
, under the Visitorship of Brother Cyprien and Brother Bernard from 1951 to 1969, had been at the Junioriate in Thu Duc. When Brother Bruno had been elected as Visitor in 1969, he moved the Provincialate Community to Phu Tho. After April 30, 1975, Brother Lucien, newly elected as Visitor, moved it to 53B Nguyen Du Street and transformed the former Provincialate into a new community - the La Salle Lu Gia Community which included Brother Adolphe, Salvator, and Benoit.Brother Adolphe passed away on November 25, 1980. Brother Salvator, in his 70’s, had moved to Mai Thon, and Brother Benoit left the Congregation. Although Mr. Benoit inherited from his family a large property of land with fruit trees in Lai Thieu, he still lived at Phu Tho, perhaps because his family-register had been in Ho Chi Minh City.
At the Provincialate Community, there were Brother Lucien, Visitor, Brother Fidele, newly elected as Auxiliary Visitor, and Brother Roger, Treasurer General of the District. For an unknown reason, Brother Fidele left the Provincialate, moved to his family’s home and joined the Diaspora Community. Since his 3-years term as Auxiliary Visitor had ended. Brother Fidele and his family were sponsored to immigrate to California in the USA in 1989.
According to the Propositions of the District Chapter, the Visitor’s term had been set for a three-year term which could be renewed up to two more terms. Brother Lucien had been elected a Visitor for the first term from 1975 to 1978. But, due to the socio-political circumstances of Vietnam, a few weeks before April 30, 75, Brother Charles Henry, Superior General, had authorized the current Visitor "full power in administering the District of Saigon during these difficult times." There was no District Chapter nor election for the new Visitor in 1978. As a matter of course, Brother Lucien had continued his role as Visitor for the second term from 1978 to 1981. Because Brother Fidele had resigned as Auxiliary Visitor, Brother Lucien assigned Brother Raymond of the Diaspora Community as Auxiliary Visitor for the 1978-1981 term.
In 1981 the socio-political situation didn’t get any better; thus, there were no District Chapter nor Election for Visitor and Auxiliary Visitor. Brothers Lucien and Raymond, ipso facto, assumed their respective roles for the 3rd or 2nd term. In 1984 the socio-political situation had been ameliorated. The District Chapter elected Brother Maurice as Visitor. Because Brother Maurice had been a Diaspora Community member, i.e. had been living at his own home since April 30, 1975, Brother Lucien expressed his concern to the District Chapter. Brother Casimir sent a letter to Brother Superior General and his Counsel in Rome, arguing that if Brother Lucien be assigned as Visitor for his 3rd ending term, i.e. for 9 years as Visitor, the assignment would be invalid. Despite this letter, Brother Superior General assigned Brother Lucien as Visitor for the 4th term from 1984 to 1987.
During the District Chapter in 1987, Brother Maurice had been elected, again, as Visitor, Brother Gregoire, as Auxiliary Visitor. At this time to solve the problem of the "Diaspora Community," he offered to make his home as the house of the Provincialate. When his term(s) finished, this house would definitively belong to the La Salle District of Saigon.
The first term ended and Brother Maurice was re-elected as Visitor and Brother Francois, as Auxiliary Visitor for 1990-1994 term
. [The District Chapter in 1990 proposition set the term for Brother Visitor and Auxiliary Visitor to 4-years term, instead of 3-years term.]Within a few months of his second term, Brother Maurice was diagnosed with bone cancer. During his 6 months in bed, he received heartfelt caring from Sister Hoai Chau, Superior General of the La Salle Sisters, and from some ex-Brothers, and Michel Quan included. The District of Saigon, although short of resources, had provided him with all the necessary and expensive medicine.
Brother John Johnston, Superior General, who had obtained [miraculously] a necessary visa to Vietnam, came to visit Brother Maurice. On this occasion, Brother Francois, Auxiliary Visitor, presented the sensitive case of "Brother Maurice’s house promised to the District." The "offering" had encountered too many protests from Brother Maurice’s family. Brother Superior General suggested that Brother Francois try to bring Brother Maurice to Mai Thon and forget all other things. The main point was that Brother Maurice can go with peace of mind." Brother Francois did so. Brother Maurice passed away at Mai Thon on August 25, 1993. Brother Francois assumed the responsibility of Visitor and moved the Provincialate Community back to 53B Nguyen Du.
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After the first semester of the school year 76-77, most of the Brothers-Teachers had to "retire," except some in the Saigon area, e.g. Brother Vital continued teaching Math at the Architecture College, Brother Emilien, Math-Physics at "La Salle Hien Vuong," Brother Arthur and Bonaventure, French and English as a second language at Marie Curie School.
Initially, their retirement seemed normal and simple, but in reality, it was not that simple. For ordinary people who had "no sins against the revolution,"the living became difficult; for the so-called "little capitalist intellectuals" and "women and men religious" who had been considered as "teaching superstition to people," living was more and more difficult.
For more than 100 years, the Brothers, who had been familiar with dealing with students in class with pens and papers had now to hoe up ground, to plant vegetables, to farm, etc. They really had to re-do their lives in this new-life-style from ground zero.