La Salle Mossard Community in Thu Duc

A week after April 30, 1975, some friends, who had experience with the communist system, suggested that Brother Francois, assigned as Director of Community, look for ways to disperse by selling or hiding most the materials used in a boarding school, i.e. plates, bowls, forks, spoons, table-knives, furniture, etc. To be honest, every Brother in the community believed and hoped that, in any socio-political situation, education for young people would be always considered as the most important concern for any political system. Therefore we still hesitated in selling and/or hiding these materials.

However, after the first “brain washing” session in the beginning of May, the Brothers in La Salle Mossard Community had a kind of forum where each one was invited to share his own opinions, comments, and concerns in dealing with the “communist revolution ideals.” The conclusive result of this forum, which all the Brothers had unanimously agreed to, was as follows, “We are not involved in politics. Our main reason in being Brothers, here and now, is to be with and for young people entrusted to us. We, each of us, try to adapt, and to meet whatever challenges before us in the light of the Declaration of the Chapter General in 1966, ’The Brothers in the World of Today,’ and in light of the 4th vow Together and by Association.”

Inspired and enforced by such a spirit of “together and by association,” the Brothers began the Complementary Summer Session with enthusiasm. However, after having exchanged money on September 22, 1975, due to the increasing cost of life, community life became more and more unstable. To be honest, it might not be because of lack of material things, i.e. food, drink, and personal needs, but rather because of the insecurity of mind and of instability of each one’s future.

The school year 75-76 had begun without any problems with regard to the administration and the relationship between the teachers and the students. But in terms of community life, there had been problems, especially when Brother Lucien, Visitor, was ordered to clarify, on the maps of the La Salle Mossard property three different lots.
1. Lot one: everything, that specifically belonged to the school, i.e. classrooms, offices and facilities, in order to “hand over” to the new administration of school;
2. Lot two: everything that had been designed for the living of the Brothers, i.e. bedrooms, community living room, kitchen, etc. within the La Salle Mossard School property. It was called “convent area;”
3. Lot three: the separate land that had been used for the Junioriate.

It might be because of the tension in confronting every day some kind of an “invisible weapon,” that relationships between Brothers themselves reflected a lesser cordiality and zeal. It seemed that the Brothers would suspect each other. The number attending morning prayers, Eucharist, even some community activities, e.g. daily meals and monthly meetings, gradually decreased. Some Brothers requested to move. Brother Francois Hien left the Congregation; Brother Joseph Tai moved to La Salle Mai Thon; Brother Wenceslas Thuong joined the “Diaspora Community” even though living far away in Vinh Long about 150km from Saigon.

Christmas Season of 1975

In previous years before ‘75 by the beginning of December, little kids had been excited, eagerly waiting for the making of the crèche, decorations, etc. for Christmas Celebrations. But, this year, there was no sign of the Christmas Season. No one had even an idea or thought about Christmas until, on December 18, a little 5th grader boy asked me, “Brother, is there Christmas Day this year?” I was astonished, looked at him, and said, “Thank you, Boy, for reminding me of Christmas Day!” I then mumbled, ”Hum... Why yes. There is Christmas Day every year!”

I mentioned this event to the community. Brother Francois, the Director, snatched the opportunity to “arouse the community life.” He said, “I know it’s not easy for people to gather on Christmas Day, but isn’t it an opportunity for us to make our community life anew, more committed, more zealous, more meaningful for our reason to be a Brother, here and now?”

The whole community agreed to invite students, former students and their relatives in the Thu Duc area to celebrate Jesus' 1975th Brithday. Despite sensing that “invisible weapons” were somewhere, more than 300 people gathered in the dormitory above the big hall at La Salle Mossard, singing “Gloria in excelsis Deo,” “Silent Night,” “Il est né, le Divin Enfant,” and many other Christmas carols in Vietnamese. Although the mood of joy and peace was less jubilant than the previous years, the Brothers and Juniors could feel rising hope and be more caring toward each other in this new life.

***

When La Salle Mossard School had become a Junior & High School of Thu Duc and its students and faculty moved to the new location, (the former Duc Minh School at Tu Duc Parish) during the week of January 1976, no religious person nor priest could wear a religious habit in school. The Education Service did not oblige students to be in uniforms, but it did oblige that everyone wear on his/her shirt-pocket the logo of the school which read “Junior&High School of Thu Duc.” Many students who had been attending La Salle Mossard School several years before ‘75 didn’t wear such a logo, but the LASAN logo instead. I had given them this LASAN logo as a souvenir a few days before moving to the new school. Mr. La The Dung, Principal at the new school, summoned the tutor teacher of each class to “make every effort to force students to love the socialist school as they loved LASAN school. They were to force them if necessary to wear the logo of this school.” It had taken more than 3 months to have all the students of this school wear its logo. Many of them still wore the LASAN logo above the required logo.

Brother Francois, who had been the general superintendent at La Salle Mossard School, was replaced by another teacher who might be more indoctrinated by the communist system. Brother Gervais and I still continued our respective roles as Dean of Studies for the 3rd and 2nd sections, perhaps while waiting for other teachers to assume these roles. Finally, Brother Colomban had been assigned to the Food Supply Services for faculty and staff.

The monthly salary for each teacher was 30 S-B dong (State-Bank new dong). In addition, the Food Supply Service provided each teacher with diverse items which varied from month to month, depending on the national and international markets. For example, the exported fruits, fish or meat had been returned for not meeting international regulations. Every person in the country, particularly the State-employees, had to “share” with the State in consuming (buying) what the State had lost in terms of exportation. With such an income salary and the received food supplies, the standard of living at the community could not satisfy the Juniors, who were teenagers. To ameliorate the daily meal for the Juniors, Brother Colomban had the initiative to raise pigs and poultry and to plant all kinds of vegetables, wherever possible.

***

The new government had devised a global plan to augment agricultural products, especially through the rice-fields, with the new technology in irrigating. It’s called new for people in the South because the State dared make two verses of poet To Huu come true:
By manpower, stone becomes rice
Squeezing soil into water,
replacing the Sky to make rain.

Thus, the State had imposed on every family-register since April 30, 1975, to supply a “manpower” working 30 days per year for the irrigation project. In addition, each junior or high school had to complete, for at least one week, the “socialist services.”

At the beginning of the school year 76-77, students and faculty at the Junior & High School of Thu Duc were assigned to work on irrigation at the Rach Chiec Bridge. On the 3rd day, during lunch time, there was an accident. Sinh, a 9th grader, who had enjoyed swimming with his classmates, suddenly disappeared. A few minutes passed; his classmates shouted “S.O.S.” The rescuer team had come, and immediately dove along the river in search for Sinh. More than 15 minutes later, a rescuer had found Sinh’s body at the bottom of the river about 500m from the scene. It was too late; Sinh had died.

The next Monday morning before saluting the flag, I led the faculty of the 2nd Section to meet Mr. La The Dung, the principal, and petitioned for granting Sinh’s family “Commendation as a Good Socialist Worker,” as a sign of compassion for Sinh and condolence to Sinh’s family. The principal didn’t reply. He just said, “I’ll consider it later.”

After the flag salute, the principal declared, “... not a hero, not at all! He died not for a just cause. He died because he was undisciplined during his duty of socialist services...” Everyone expressed anger and disgust for that “sub-PhD” principal who showed more or less significantly the so-called “Morals of the Revolution.”

***

By the end of October 1976, Ms. Huyen, Vice-principal at the Junior & High School of Thu Duc, invited me to take a walk around the school backyard. She said, - “To be honest, I recognize that you, Brothers of La Salle, are really well skilled in educational matters.”
- “ Thank you!”
- “ Mr. Principal and I have watched your administration and teaching of young people, and your relationship dealing with faculty and staff as well, for several months.”
- “ Wow! You did watch. Does it mean that you have been looking over us, and for an appropriate opportunity to...”
- “ Oh no! It’s not my case! To tell the truth, when I had moved South, and then came to Saigon, I had had another view totally different - not to say in contrast - from what I had learned before in the North. Especially when I came to La Salle Mossard School and had observed students and faculty and staff at this school, I realized that I had been wrong in listening to the propaganda. But, that is not the main point. My main point is that, although you have been expert in education , still as you know, education or teaching must be guided or oriented in a certain direction to be good education...”
- “ I understand what you mean, but...”
- “ Ok! You have been attending some ‘politics sessions.’ I don’t have to lecture to you again.”

She and I laughed. She then continued, “Frankly speaking, there are some opinions, even just for joking, that you must not say aloud. “They” can arrest you and put you in jail at any moment. So, please, be careful. What I wish to tell you is that I can make you a regular member of the school personnel, even a regular member of the administration.”
- “ Thank you.”
- “ But, with one and only one condition...”
She had stopped short, then looked at me as to sound out my reaction. I had guessed, and understood what she tried to say; therefore, I showed totally indifference. She continued, “Leave the religious life.”
- “ What? You...”
- “ Wait! Listen to me! I am not telling you to give up your religious belief or faith. But for the Brother Life, “they” don’t recognize this life-style. Moreover, a Brother in “their” socialist school is not recognized.”
- “ For whom do you take me? Look! If I deny what I have been following for many decades and accept what I just know and that I am now convinced worthless, do you think I am such a person?”
- “ I know.”

She had sighed, looked at me, and tried to overcome something, and then said, “I admire you and all the Brothers and Sisters for your loyalty to your ideals and faith. I will tell you the truth: even if you listen to me and give up your religious life, yes, “they” surely will accept you as a regular member of the personnel or of the administration, but just for a few years, then “they” will reject you.”

***

A week later, the principal called me to his office. He lectured to me, again, about the policies of the revolution and, as usual, gave emphasis to the highest degree in consolidating the society conducted by the communist party. He then changed the subject, straight to what I had prepared for - Religion. He told me, “You, Catholics and religious people and priests, patiently pursue a vague and ethereal and utopian ideal.”
- “ You said “utopian ideal”, but do you know that for more than 2000 years, there have been many followers on the steps of Jesus, their Founder and Redeemer. In addition, there have been uncountable numbers of women and men, even children, who rather died than denying their faith in Jesus Christ.”
- “ You think that we, communists, we don’t have those people who died for the Party like Nguyen Van Troi, Tran Van On, etc? Do anyone of you dares to carry a bomb to have it exploded in order to kill enemies for the sake of his/her ideal and belief?”
- “ ...”

He shook his head, proudly, then continued, “You pretend that preaching and teaching, day after day, month after month, year after year, can change the world. It’s totally worthless because it doesn’t bring any benefit to society, to the poor, or to the oppressed ones...” He talked and talked, nonstop, repeating what I had heard too many times. I had to listen, nonstop, too, but my mind tried to concentrate in guessing, “What, at the end, does he want?”

He suddenly changed tone, saying, “Now, I ask you, dealing with a capitalist who used to oppress poor people, plunder sweat and blood of poor workers, you, the so-called religious leaders or shepherds for poor people, what did you do to stop that capitalist oppressing and plundering?” I calmly replied, “If such a capitalist really did whatever you just stated, then, on the side of society, there are socio-political laws to protect these poor people. The civic government had to apply these laws to punish such a capitalist. On the other side, we, as religious leaders or spiritual shepherds, we never ceased to proclaim social justice which means both to protect workers’ rights and to remind employers of being aware of the human conscience and of eternal life each one of us had to prepare for.”
- “ Utopia! He shouted. Conscience, conscience! Your conscience is the same as that of the capitalist, ‘living in luxury to take care of poor people in misery!’”

He looked at me. With a voice becoming so cold and cruel that I felt creepy, he continued, “Hum! We don’t need talking, preaching, or lecturing. We just thrust with a dagger at these capitalists’ chests, and they will obey us!” He glowered at me, then said, “You have to sign on in transferring the job as Dean of Studies to Mr. Can.”

In my mind, I remembered the passage from the collections of speeches of the writer Morris L. West about “the invisible weapon,” and I tried to overcome my anxiety. I reported this conversation to the community during dinner time, and I was surprised that, on the same day, Brother Gervais, Dean of Studies for the 3rd Section, had been summoned and was obliged to sign a transferal of his job to Mr. Khan. We looked at each other, and then said, “Now, it’s the hour!”

At the beginning of December, 1976, the principal, Mr. La The Dung, summoned the staff and faculty at the Junior&High School of Thu Duc. He formally informed us that “priests, go back to your church, religious men and women, go back to your convent. Leave all the schools to the socialist administration.” To tell the truth, the decree on such matters had been signed in July 1976, by the National Education Service and had been leaked through rumors a long time ago.

On the next day, I came to meet the principal and said, “Here is my transferring of Dean of Studies to Mr. Can, and here is my request to leave the school. Tomorrow I will not come back to school “for the sake of my declining health.”
- “ No way! He replied. You cannot give up immediately like that. If tomorrow, you won’t come to continue teaching, I’m calling the police to arrest you at home.”
- “ Isn’t it true that, I calmly said, you announced, yesterday, that religious men should go back to their convent and to leave the school to the socialist system?”
- “ Yes, I did. He replied, more calmly. But due to the schedule for this first semester coming to the end you must come back and continue your teaching until a new order is issued.”

***

All the Brothers at the La Salle Thu Duc Community had “obeyed” to the decree of the National Education Service. Brother Bartholomew, who had thought that “the best way to live his own life is to adapt himself to any situation that happened,” left the Congregation, then asked the principal to sponsor him in the communist system in order to become a regular member of the faculty.

When the Brothers left the school, many students wished to follow them, abandoning the school. We had to argue with them that “it would be very dangerous, not only for them and their families, but the immediate effect of dropping school would be the condemnation verdict for the Brothers.” Fortunately, they respected our argument and continued to go to school.

On the afternoon of February 17, 1977, the Lunar New Year’s Eve, students of Brother Michel and mine invited both of us to participate in a New Year Party at the school. We came to school at about 2:30 P.M. Ms. Huyen, vice-principal, was lecturing to the 2nd Section students about the manner to behave during the Tet Holidays. Some students looked around, turned their heads back, and saw us coming on our bicycles. They shouted, “Brothers! Brothers!” Brother Michel and I were embarrassed, put a finger on mouth, making sign of ”Keep quiet!” But other students had turned their heads back, saw us, and then shouted louder, “Brothers! Brothers!” while waving their hands. Somewhere, Ms. Vice-Principal’s voice echoed, “OK! Go greet your Brothers!”

It was really a heartfelt welcome from the students, but also a great concern for me and for all the Brothers. I knew that, a long time ago, the more you influence young people, the more you’ll get into trouble from the communist system. Especially if you were categorized as “dangerous intellectuals.” Before going home, Ms. Vice-Principal came to meet us. She wished us and all the Brothers “Happy New Year,” then added, “It’s true that boys and girls love you, everyone of you! You have a deep influence on them. Personally, I regret not being able to keep you on the faculty and to have you teaching these lovely boys and girls.”

Since that afternoon, I have had no opportunity to go back to school. However, our students continued to come to our home to play basketball, or volleyball, or just to say “Hello” to the La Salle Brothers.