Thai Salesian Newsletter - June 2023

ปฏิญาณต้นต้ลอดช่พในคณะซาเลเซ่ย์นโดย์คุณพ่ออันต้น บุญเลิศิ ปณ่ต้ัธิ์ย์าศิัย์ เจ้าคณะฯ เป็นประธิ์านในพิธิ์่ ณ วััดแม่พระองค์อุปถัมภ์ อ.ดอย์สะเก่็ด จ.เช่ย์งให่ม่ โดย์ม่สมาชิก่ซาเลเซ่ย์น ครอบครัวัซาเลเซ่ย์น

“พระเยซูคริสตเจาทรงถอมตนลงกับผูตํ่าตอย และยอมแบกบาปของเรา พระองคไมทรงหักตนออ ที่ชํ้าแลว และไมดับไสตะเกียงที่กําลังริบหรี่ นี่แหละแบบอยางของเธอ”

(คุณพอบอสโก)

On 27 May 2023, Bro. Andrew Surachai Rattanayomngamdee made his religious perpetual profession in the Salesian Congregation. Fr. Anthony Boonlert Paneetatthayasai, the Provincial, presided at the ceremony held at Mary Help of Christians Church, Doi Saket, Chiangmai. Some 300 people attended the celebration composed of the salesian confreres, members of the salesian family, relatives and the faithful.

Let us learn from the heart of Jesus as taught by don Bosco.

“Jesus Christ made Himself little with the little ones and bore our miseries. He did not break the already cracked reed, nor extinguish the flickering wick. Here is your model.”

(Don Bosco)

วัันที่่� 27 พฤษภาคม 2023 บราเดอร์อันดรูวั์ สุรชัย์ รัต้นย์่อมงามด่

Fr. Boonlert Paneetathayasai, SDB (Provincial)

EDUCATION’S HEART OF GOLD

Why devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is in the DNA of the Salesian Congregation

Don Ángel Fernández Artime, SDB Rector Major

Iwish to present to you the reality of the meaning of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Rome (Sacro Cuore).

It is a church with a very great history – one that has its roots in Don Bosco himself – for at the Pope’s request he spent the last years of his life, as well as his last energies and strength, on the construction of this beloved church.

The Sacred Heart, and every church and devotion in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, speaks of the Love of that Divine Heart, the Heart of the Son of God, for each one of His sons and daughters in the entire human race. It also speaks of suffering and of the Love we receive from God, which is not always reciprocated.

Today I wish to add one more aspect: I think it also speaks of the pain that Jesus our Lord feels in the face of the suffering of many people: rejection, immigration without a place to go, loneliness, and the violence done to many. I think it can be said that He speaks of all this, too, and without a doubt at the same time blesses everything that is done on behalf of those less fortunate, just as Jesus Himself did when traveling the roads of Judea and Galilee.

Very many silver hearts

One joyful reality that undoubtedly makes the very Heart of God rejoice is what I myself saw being carried out in the Don Bosco Salesian Foundation on the islands of Tenerife and Grand Canary. I was there in these past weeks. Among the many things experienced, I was able to witness the work of 140 educators who carry forward the various projects of the Foundation, including the reception of those in need and their housing, work training, and subsequent placement in the working world.

I also had an encounter with another group of a hundred adolescents and young adults who have been blessed to have received this service that Don Bosco gives to the least. At the end of our precious meeting, they gave me a gift. In a small, heart-shaped cardboard box, they had placed more than a hundred hearts, bearing the names of Nain, Rocío, Armiche, Mustapha, Xousef, Ainoha, Desirée, Abdjalil, Beatriz and Ibrahim, Yone, and Mohamed, and a hundred others, each with a message written on it. These messages expressed something simple, and in a simple way, but still something which sprang from the heart. These are

some examples of the precious statements:

• Thank you for making all this possible

• Thank you for the second chance you have given me in my life

• I’m still fighting. It’s easier to do so with your help

• Thank you because you have restored my joy

• Thank you for helping me believe that I can do everything I set out to do

• Thank you for the food and a home

• Thank you from the bottom of my heart

• Thank you for having helped me

• Thank you for this opportunity to ssssgrow

• Thank you for believing in us young people despite the situation in which we live

There were a hundred others, just like these, addressed to Don Bosco and to the educators who are at their

side every day in Don Bosco’s name. I listened to all they shared with me. I heard some of their stories – many of them filled with pain; I saw the look in their eyes and their smiles. I was very proud to be a Salesian and to belong to a family of such splendid brothers, educators, and young people.

I thought, yet again, that Don Bosco is as timely as ever – and more necessary than ever. I also thought how great is the educational delicacy with which we accompany these young people along their path, taking each one where he or she is and not where we would like them to be.

Together we said a prayer addressed to the God who loves us all, to the God who blesses His sons and daughters, using words that made Christians, Muslims, and Hindus feel comfortable. No doubt, the Spirit of God assisted us all. I was happy because just as Don Bosco himself welcomed his first boys

to Valdocco, the same thing is experienced today in so many “Valdoccos” around the world.

I have no doubt that the Sacred Heart of Jesus is full of the Love that manifests itself in the many wounds healed in each one of these boys and girls because, we well know, Love heals and cures.

Blessed Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, Don Ángel Fernández Artime, SDB

Don Bosco is as timely as ever –and more necessary than ever.

I also thought how great is the educational delicacy with which we accompany these young people along their path, taking each one where he or she is and not where we would like them to be.

10th EAO Regional Congress of Salesian Cooperators

โชต้ผู้ล จต้ต้าธิ์ก่ารและต้วัแที่นซาเลเซ่ย์น

8 คน และก่ัมพูชา (THA) 4 คน รวัมก่ารประชุมซาเลเซ่ย์นผูู้้รวัมงานของภมิภาคเอเช่ย์ต้ะวัันออก่ และโอเช่ย์เน่ย์ ห่วัข้อ “Youth

Orientation at the Opening of the New School Year

From 15 - 17 May 2023, Mr. Pornsawat Lertvitayavivat organized activities to prepare the children of Don Bosco Home, Bangsak, Phangnga Province, for the opening of the new school year 2023/2566, at the meeting hall of the Home. In this school year, there are 45 children in all, divided into 29 boys and 16 girls.

From 26-28 May 2023, Fr. Niphon Sarachit, Sr. Suphawan Chotiphon, spiritual animators, and 8 representatives of the Association of the Salesian Cooperators of Thailand and 4 from Cambodia [THA], joined the 10th Regional Congress of the Association in the EAO Region on the theme “Youth as the Yeast Fermenting Today’s Family” at Tang King Po School, Hongkong 100 members from 13 countries attended the meeting.

Spiritual Recollection

วัันที่่� 2-5 มถุนาย์น 2023 อภิรต้ก่ชนซาเลเซ่ย์นบ้านนาซาเรที่ (ม.ปลาย์-ปวัช) จ.ราชบร่ และบ้านห่วัห่ิน (ม.ต้้น) จ.ประจวับฯ รวัมจานวัน 61 คน ได้ฟื้้�นฟื้จต้ใจรวัมก่ันที่่�บ้านเณรห่วัห่ิน ห่วัข้อ

From 2-5 June 2023, the salesian aspirants of Nazareth House - Banpong, Ratchaburi [Senior High School Level] and of Huahin [Junior High School Level ]numbering 61 persons in all held a joint spiritual recollection on the theme “Being True Christians...Like Quality Yeast in the Footsteps of Don Bosco” with Fr. Phisit Joseph and Fr. Warayut Charoenphoom as animators.

On 28 May 2023, the alumni of Don Bosco Technical School, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, celebrated the 33rd anniversary of the beginning of the salesian presence in the country [24 May 1990]. The celebration was held in the school premises, the first institute of the salesian activities. On this occasion, the alumni gave monetary donation and consumer goods to the school for the benefit of the students.

Salesians from the Philippines

Jose Dindo S. Vitug,

On 9 June 2023, Bro. Andrew Surachai Rattanayomngamdee, left for the Philippines to receive specific formation in theology at the Don Bosco School of Theology. On this occasion, the salesian confreres offer their prayers and encouragement for his studies and personal preparation to be a salesian priest in the future.

From 22-23 May 2023, Fr. Jose Dindo S. Vitug, SDB, led a group of 11 managers and representatives of Don Bosco Technical Colleges - from Makati, Canlubang and Cebu - Philippines, to observe the tie-up between Don Bosco Technological College - Bangkok and Mercedes-Benz Company. They were welcomed by the rector, Fr. Phonchit Phoolvithayakij and the school staff.

On 8 June 2023, Mary Help of Christians Church, led by Fr. Suphot Riungam, the present pastor, Fr. Aaron Alcoseba, the former pastor, Dr. Boonsom Namsomboon, the chairperson of the pastoral council, and Prof. Prasert Visetkij, welcomed Mr. Sakphetch Yanakaew, the Director of Religious Sites and Registration Office, along with officials from the Department of Religious Affairs Ministry of Culture, who came to inspect the place in order to present the results for the accreditation by the Cabinet according to the regulations of the Prime Minister’s Office on the establishment of a church of the Roman Catholic Priest, B.E. 2564.