The Loyola School of Theology (L.S.T.) invites you to the oral defense of the S.T.L. Tesina entitled “MENTORING THE YOUTH IN VOCATIONAL ELECTION: An Application for the Jesuit Candidate House of Vietnam” by Fr. NGUYEN QUOC KINH, S.J. on 30 October 2024, Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. at the Tipanan ni San Ignacio, DLC 201, 2/F Dela Costa Bldg., L.S.T. The Board of Examiners is composed of Carmen Lourdes Valdes, Ph.D. (Adviser), Fr. Jose Quilongquilong, S.J., S.T.D. (Second Reader/Principal Examiner), and Fr. John Cheong Chechon, S.J., S.T.D. The defense is being held in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Licentiate in Sacred Theology concentrating in the field of Spirituality and Pastoral Psychology. It is open to the public.
Abstract: This thesis presents the cultural, political, and social context of Vietnam and the current state of the Catholic Church and the Jesuit Order in Vietnam. Within this framework, the author identifies the need to guide young Catholics in discerning their vocation in the spirit of the Gospel under the direction of the Church and the Ignatian spirituality. Accordingly, he will propose ways in which the Society of Jesus can actively promote and seek vocations for both the Church and the Order. The promotion vocation is carried out systematically and responsibly to accompany and assist young Catholics in discovering their own calling.
Building upon the foundation of the Spiritual Exercises, the author will present a method to assist Jesuit candidates in discerning their vocation. This is a two-year process centered on eight-day Spiritual Exercises based on Gospel texts, allowing the candidates to discern God’s will for their lives clearly. To aid in recognizing and selecting their vocation, the candidates undergo comprehensive training in five key areas: human development, intellectual formation, apostolic life, community life, and spiritual life. According to the Spiritual Exercises, the vocational discernment of candidates is confirmed by the formation team. This discernment is further validated by the Order’s examiners before the candidates are presented to the superior provincial. With the assistance of four counselors, the provincial admits the candidates to the Jesuit Order as the final confirmation of the vocational discernment process.
