Much of the ministry and time of V.Rev. William Nordenbrock, C.PP.S. is related to General Statute 51 from our Normative Texts.  Statute 51 reads, “All major superiors are to visit the residences and members of their jurisdictions at least once during each term of office.”  Visiting over 500 Missionaries spread out over 22 countries is a time consuming activity.  Yet, despite the stress of busy airports, delayed flights, and lost luggage, Fr. Bill says that this part of his ministry is one of his favorite because it gives him the opportunity to see first hand how our Missionaries are faithfully responding to the call of the Gospel.

Recently Fr. Bill spent a few weeks in the Vietnamese Mission.  During his visitation trips he not only meets individually with all of the members of the unit, he also travels around to visit various ministry sites, groups of laity, and the local bishops.  Bro. Daryl Charron, C.PP.S., reported that in addition to visiting the Mission’s two houses in Ho Chi Minh City, Fr. Bill traveled to the Mission’s new rural ministry in Tan Thanh where the Missionaries and candidates have been serving the working poor by providing food baskets.  

During his time in the Mission, Fr. Bill also witnessed the ministry that the Missionaries share with the Adorers of the Blood of Christ.  This common ministry is dedicated to educating poor children in rural Vietnam.  

In addition to visiting the various ministry sites, Fr. Bill spent a significant amount of time listening to the members of the Mission.  They shared with him the challenges the Mission is facing as well as the hope they have for the future.  Currently the Mission has five Missionaries and nine candidates.  Four of those candidates will be definitively incorporated into the Congregation on April 7, 2018.