Leadership Conference of Consecrated Life South Africa (LCCL SA) has appointed Sr. Thao Phi as their new Secretary General.
She was born on the 26th of June 1975 in Vietnam and in 1996 she migrated to Santa Ana, California, USA with her parents and 5 other siblings.
In 1999 she joined the congregation of Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM) in Rhode Island, USA.
After some years, in June 2006 she graduated with a BA in Liberal Arts and Education from Emmanuel College in Boston, USA.
She was admitted by her congregation to make her Final Religious profession in 2007.
Some months later, in March 2008 she was transferred to join the province of South Africa, where she is until today.
During her second year in South Africa she was assigned as a teacher of Grade R at St. Theresa’s Convent School in Coronationville.
In the beginning of 2010 she was appointed a Head Principal of Buhlebuyeta Preschool in Mpuluzi, Mpumalanga.
After seven years of hard work as a principal, in 2018 Sr Thao was appointed a provincial bursar of the congregation.
She has been appointed to the new work in the LCCL while she was still carrying the responsibility of managing the assets of her congregation.
During our conversation Sr Thao said she was very surprised when she was approached by her provincial superior about the request from LCCL SA leadership. She said the new job is going to help her to have a better and open horizon about Religious Life in Southern Africa.
Further she said she is very happy about the position and she appreciates the clear structure of operation that LCCL SA has already put in place. She stated that she is looking forward to have a face to face meeting with the leadership, as everything has been happening virtually, including her interview.
She stated that some of the challenges facing Religious Life today are lack of vocations and the declined numbers of membership in different congregations. This has affected the effectiveness in running many projects in the Church. She said together with LCCL SA leadership team they are faced with the challenge to bring new enthusiasm, transformation and new perspective of involvement of Religious Life in the life of the Church.
Sr Thao Phi has already resumed her responsibility since 1st June. She replaces Sr Maureen Rooney on the position. She will continue carrying out her responsibility as the bursar of her congregation.
She is presently residing in one of her communities at Our Lady of Sacred Heart Parish in Midrand, where she has been doing pastoral work to the youth.
By Paul Tatu
11th June, 2020
