Peter Hô Văn Mây
A Journey
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About the Book
Peter Hô Văn Mây: A Journey is an account of the life of Father Peter Hô Văn Mây, Vietnamese refugee and Catholic priest in Canada. Sustained by the love and help of his parents who made many sacrifices to enable their son to complete his studies in various Vietnamese seminaries, Peter saw his dream of ordination as a priest suddenly vanish with the fall of South Vietnam in l975, when activities of the Catholic Church were severely curtailed. Sensing his own life to be in danger, he undertook a perilous escape by land through Cambodia, where he endured illness and torture before reaching safety. The many difficulties he experienced in adapting to life in Canada did not deter him from finally achieving his goal. After ordination, Father Peter, while continuing to serve his Canadian parishioners faithfully, did not forget the people of his homeland and helped to organize many relief activities for the Church in Vietnam. The account concludes with Father Hô Văn Mây's thoughts on what it means to be a priest as well as a moving tribute to his parents for their dream of his future and their steadfast support all along the way.
The journey of Peter Hô Văn Mây took him from the rice fields of the Mekong Delta to refugee camps in Cambodia and Thailand, to Europe, Montreal and Ottawa, and finally to Victoria, British Columbia. The physical and psychological hardships he endured, tempered by the help he encountered along the way, make this story not only an inspirational example of courage and faithfulness to a lifelong goal, but also one of the power of human love and compassion.
About the Author
Gilbert Taggart is a retired professor of French language and linguistics at Concordia University, now living in Victoria with his wife Marie-Élizabeth. He has been particularly interested in the preservation and promotion of minority languages, including Rumantsch, Inuktitut and Louisiana French. In addition to his academic interests, Gilbert Taggart creates and produces animated films for children and families.