Nguyen Bao Toan
Toan lived with us at Holy Cross since September last year until two weeks ago while engaged in English language studies at ELSPM. Through a process of discernment he acknowledged that while he loved Passionist life, this was not his future. He returned home to his family who live just over an hour from Saigon. Sadly on Tuesday, around 9.30pm, his parents last saw him on his laptop computer and then discovered Toan had lay down on his bed where he died.
Toan demonstrated to us great generosity and care for others and a genuine willingness to help at all times. Various visitors commented on his bright nature and generosity. In particular he was magnificent in his care of his brothers when they had COVID. He was particularly attentive to prayer and his spiritual life. He would have been 27 on April 26th, so it is a sad premature end to his life which he so conscientiously wanted to devote to God. The entire community, but especially his Vietnamese brothers at Holy Cross have been deeply affected by his sudden death.
Fr Dien in Vietnam has been supporting Toan’s family. His body was brought home from the hospital to be in his parent’s home. Dien is ensuring that Toan has a proper ‘Passionist’ burial, beginning with a blessing of the body and coffin on Wednesday afternoon. May he rest in peace.