For CANA International, May was all about Asia.
Vietnam was the first to welcome us: in Hanoi, in the north, the Giáo xứ Kẻ Sét parish organized two CANA evenings for about ten couples who serve as leaders in the parish. The 12 couples were deeply moved by these two evenings. Here is an attached article that was shared within the parish. (The first two pages are in Vietnamese, followed by two pages translated into French.)
We are now waiting for the parish priest’s approval—whom we liked very much—in order to decide on the next steps. CANA Welcome is currently being translated into Vietnamese, so we’ve proposed that they launch a program in the parish. We could also return in December 2026 to lead a CANA weekend open to the parish, in a non-residential format.
Our program combined CANA, church gatherings, and exploring Hà Nội. And that’s not even counting the Holy Spirit, who had also arranged some providential encounters for us! We met with the pastor of the Rédemptoris parish, the most vibrant parish in Hà Nội; the pastor of the Kẻ Trũ parish, a pilgrimage site dedicated to Saint Théophane Venard; and an interview with the Archbishop of Hanoi, Archbishop Joseph Vũ Văn Thiên. We spent over an hour with him, listening to him speak about the cultural and ecclesial realities of Vietnam and presenting our two projects to him: World Youth Day in South Korea and the establishment of CANA in Vietnam.
After the “glory” we experienced in Hanoi, we faced more of the “cross” in Ho Chi Minh City. This humbled us and helped us reflect on the importance of “small beginnings”… We had been preparing for the second CANA weekend for several months, and only three couples showed up (plus one couple who joined us on Sunday).
Once we got past our disappointment, we chose to believe that even for just one couple, it was worth it! Indeed, the weekend went very well, and the Lord sent us the couple we needed: Lucia & Kevin, a young couple in their 35s, have agreed to serve as our local representatives in Ho Chi Minh City. They will handle the preparatory tasks: communication, outreach, administrative work, logistics…
In conclusion, it was a wonderful introduction to Vietnam and its thriving Church. It was a journey deeply guided by the Lord, and we are filled with gratitude. It seems this is only the beginning of the adventure ☺
After this long journey, I joined our CANA brothers and sisters in mainland China. The mission is growing rapidly in the Hebei region: CANA Welcome, CANA Parents, CANA weekends and weeks… Many couples are involved in the CANA mission, and the priests and bishops are encouraging us.
We’ve renewed the national team, right up to the CANA leaders. Zhàoliàng and Wǔchāichāi have agreed to take on the leadership of CANA in China for a three-year term, renewable. They’re a young, dynamic couple who pray every day for all the CANA couples. They took us to visit many families, and it was wonderful to hear the testimonies of all these couples. In China, many men are addicted to alcohol, gambling, nightlife, and cigarettes… This severely destroys families. Children are afraid of their fathers. CANA is a place of salvation for all these couples, where the men undergo a profound conversion—particularly through writing letters and the reconciliation evening—leaving their addictions behind and becoming strong Christians.
In conclusion, I was once again amazed by the fervor of all these couples and Christians—it is truly inspiring. May the Lord strengthen all these Christians and help us to pray for them!
I ended my journey with a visit to CANA in Hong Kong. We visited the couples in Macau, who were happy and touched to welcome us to their island. The couples from Macau have always been connected to CANA Hong Kong (about a 2-hour door-to-door trip by bus or ferry). For many years, they were part of the same fellowship, but for the past two years, they have been mixed in with the couples from Hong Kong and alternate trips between Hong Kong and Macau.
And that wraps up our Asian adventures! May the Lord guide all things!
