Thai Salesian Newsletter - November 2022

The joint meeting of the delegates of Social Communication and Formation of the East Asia – Oceania region was organized on 6-11 November 2022 at the Salesian Retreat House, Hua Hin, in the presence of Fr. Ivo Coelho, the General Councillor for Formation; Fr. Gildásio Mendes, the General Councillor for Social Communication, Fr. Nguyen Thinh Phuoc Joseph, the Regional Councillor of East AsiaOceania Region and Fr. John Bosco Dheparat, the Provincial of the Thailand province. This annual meeting was under the theme: “Towards a Salesian proposal for Formation in a digital world: Educational Ethics and Pastoral Aesthetics.”

Nearly 35 members from the 8 provinces of Australia, China, Philippines North, Philippines South, Japan, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam, 4 vice provinces of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, Indonesia, Timor Leste and Myanmar and 4 delegations of North Vietnam, Cambodia, Mongolia and the Pacific Islands. 17 belonged to the Social Communication Sector, while the other 18 belonged to the Formation Sector.

Don Ángel Fernández Artime

THE LITTLE CITY OF THE BEATITUDES

The story began many years ago following the infamous First World War, in a little town high in the mountains of Italy, in a dignified poor family of thirteen children.

One evening, after the children had been served their portion of polenta, one of them realized that their parents did not have any. “Why do you and Daddy have empty plates?” he asked his mom. She answered: “We are not hungry tonight.” “Then neither am I hungry,” he said, as he ran out into the barnyard in the darkness of the night. His mom caught up to him followed by his dad. It was then that little Orfeo said decisively: “If I become a priest, I will work only for the poor, for those who are hungry, just as I am hungry this evening!”

Orfeo Mantovani entered the Salesian novitiate and left for the Salesian missions in India in 1934. India became his second and most beloved homeland. His bishop, Louis Mathias, was another Salesian giant. He had the beard of the patriarchs and was a courageous man. He immediately granted Father Mantovani his wish by entrusting to him the most squalid areas of Madras.

Don Orfeo got to work immediately. On ground next to a train station, blackened by old coal deposits, he started to gather street urchins, those who were abandoned by everyone and who could not take it no longer. Among them, he launched his challenge to the “black tiger” – the desperate hunger of run-down neighborhoods.

In this way, the Salesian with the meek smile founded, a little at a time as Don Bosco did, his Center for social relief. It had day and night elementary schools, a free clinic and hospital, a leprosarium, and a festive oratory. After he died, another Salesian took his place, then another, and another after him. This is the beauty of a large religious family. The site became a citadel of loving charity.

Just a few weeks ago I entered that citadel in Chennai. For me, it was a magnificent experience. The work bears the name “The Beatitudes” and

is known as the Salesian house into which one enters at age three and from which one leaves only at the end of one’s life, for the meeting with our Lord. They say here: under Don Bosco’s smiling gaze “from the womb to the tomb.”

Perhaps what I am writing will surprise you. I admired the work of the Salesians, the service they give to thousands of families, children, teens, young adults, and the elderly. This is all a fruit of the collaboration among three congregations in the Salesian Family: this is its freshness and richness! Here the Salesians of Don Bosco, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, and the congregation of the Sisters of Maria Auxiliatrix, the SMA; all work together.

Beginning at three years of age, children attend the grammar school run by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, who also care for teenage

girls. The Sisters of Maria Auxiliatrix assist elderly men and women who have no source of welfare and no other place to live out the end of their days. The Salesian priests and brothers care for boys and girls of varying ages as well as taking in street children. Of course, besides all this, they visit the extremely poor families in the area and take care of the parish.

All that happens there makes it seem to be, in a certain sense, a “little Salesian city.” I remained profoundly touched and promised them that I would speak of it to make it known because, as we learned from Don Bosco, the good that is done must be made known.

I appreciate and value very much the collaboration that has begun among these three congregations of our Salesian Family. What matters here is not who owns the land or the buildings but the good that is done – and

is done together – going out to meet the poorest and most fragile (here we think of those elderly persons who make us understand what frailty and insecurity are). If it were not for that little paradise called “The Beatitudes,” which God had in mind for them, frailty, poverty, and insecurity would have the last word.

Whoever reflects on the Village of the Beatitudes cannot but marvel at the results brought about by a little shared love. Every day, food for 300 elderly persons is guaranteed, over 1,000 children are served, and over 15,000 people find relief for various needs, “all at zero cost.” Those who enter into this Village of the Beatitudes see with their own eyes these “fifty years of daily miracles.”

The mottoes that characterize this house are: “Serving those who are ill is the best prayer.” (Fr. Mantovani) “No one has the right to be happy all by himself.” “It is possible to give without love, but it is not possible to love without giving.”

The people hold that the Village of the Beatitudes is a tangible expression of the Salesians’ fidelity to serving the poor and also a concrete manifestation of Divine Providence on their behalf. For the young of the shanty towns, it is an oasis. It is a church, school, playground on which to learn how to play soccer, a gymnasium, and a home.

To think that in Chennai we have fifteen Salesian communities. Among these there are parishes, middle and high schools, technical schools, oratories,

youth centers, social assistance centers for children and youths at risk, houses of formation, and even a seminary. The archbishop, the clergy, and the laity, both Christian and non-Christian, greatly appreciate and value the many works carried out by the Salesians, in particular their concern for youth ministry, for the mission carried out for service to the poorest, and for the excellent flagship schools that provide quality instruction for all.

All this speaks to me of the beauty of the Gospel that is passed down throughout the world, often with the strength of charity carried out in silence; it speaks to me of Don Bosco and how important it was to him to reach the most remote corners of the world. I never tire of recalling that our Salesian Family, Don Bosco’s sons and daughters, is present today in 134 countries, 72% of all the countries in the world – and that this began in a time when there but few Salesians. Notwithstanding the small number, Don Bosco still sent out his first missionary group to Argentina to go to the Italian immigrants and then to reach the indigenous tribes. If we had remained only in Italy, Don Bosco’s charism would not be what it is today.

I end this writing with the words spoken one day by a Hindu public official: “If the Christian religion can produce men such as Don Mantovani, it has to be divine.”

Affectionately, Don Ángel Fernández Artime, SDB

By SDB Reporter

Bosco Thailand [VDB] held their annual spiritual retreat under the theme “The Holy Spirit, the Guide and Light of our Way to Holiness in our Individual Contexts”. This was animated by Fr. John Somchart Phewklieng and held at St. Joseph Church, Banpong, Ratchaburi Province.

Recollection of the Catholic Teachers

On 31 October 2022, at the Tsunami Scout Library, Don Bosco Home - Bangsak, Phangnga Province, the children, staff and faithful residing nearby - 62 people in all - prayed the holy rosary and celebrated the Holy Mass at the closing of the rosary month. The Mass was presided by Fr. Chainarong Ritsarnphithak. A familial agape was held after the ceremonies.

22 October 2022, the 19 catholic teachers of St. Dominic School held their annual spiritual recollection under the theme “Do All Through Love”. This was animated by Fr. Kriengsak Chaiyaphornkaew, together with Fr. Sakchai Trivaudom and Fr.Yarat Chaiyara, the spiritual animator. This was held at the Sacred Heart Convent and at the Church of the Nativity, Bangnokkhuek, Samut Songkhram Province.

23 October 2022, the St. Vincent de Paul Society of the Lourdes Church, Hatyai, Songkhla Province, gave study scholarships to 37 poor students. Fr. John Pertile, the parish priest, gave the honor to hand the scholarships in the name of the church.

On October 25, 2022, Father Chinawat Suwadinkun, the school manager of Sarasit Pittayalai School, Ban Pong, Ratchaburi, along with the team, was invited to give a training on the topic of “Salesian Teacher Spirituality and Salesian Accompaniment” to the teachers of Nareewut School, Ratchaburi. This was held at the school’s meeting hall.

Songsingh, a Mathayom 3 student of Huahin Vitthayalai School, Prachuabkhirikhan, was the national representative of Thailand in the “2022 Jujitsu World Championships”. He received the gold medal in the U-16 Duo Mix Category. This was held in Abu Dhabi, Arab Emirates on 1 November 2022.

Benz

On 1 November 2022, 20 students of Don Bosco Technological College -Bangkok, third batch, and 22 students of the fourth batch, and 4 students from

Don Bosco Technological College - Banpong, received the certificate of completion of the bilateral course in Auto-Mechatronics German Standard, accomplished with the cooperation the Thai-German Chamber of Commerce and Mercedes-Benz. H.E. Hans-Ulrich Suedbech, the Ambassador of Germany to Thailand, gave the honor to award the certificates at the MercedesBenz Training Center, Bangna.

World Champion in “Jujitsu”

By SDB Reporter

On 4 November 2022, Fr. Ivo Coelho, the councillor for the Formation Sector of the Salesian Congregation, met and gave a conference to the post novitiate confreres taking philosophical studies at the Salesian House - Sampran, Nakorn Pathom Province.

8 November 2022, Don Bosco Technological College organized the Thai - German Cooperation Day. The event was honored by the presence of Chief of Mission and Head of the Economic Department of the German Embassy Bangkok in Thailand, Mr. Hans-Ulrich Südbeck, who presided at the ceremony.

13 November 2022, the church of St. Teresa of the Child Jesus - Huahin, held the annual feast. Fr. Amornkit Phromphakdi, the diocesan vicar of Surat Thani Diocese, presided at the Holy Mass. On this occasion, there was the reception of the sacrament of confirmation of 26 faithful.

Joseph Nguyen Thinh Phuoc, Regional Councilor to the Rector Major for the EAO Region, visited the Salesian confreres of Don Bosco Youth Vocational Training Center, Vientiane, Laos, from 13-15 November 2022.

Visit to Salesian Formation House - Sampran

9-13 November 2022, Fr. Eleuterio Tapay represented the Thai Province in the meeting of the Provincial Delegates for Missionary Animation of the EAO Region, under the theme “The Salesian Missionary Vocation - Reflections, Processes and Operational Guidelines”. This was held at the salesian retreat house, Batulao, Philippines.

From 11-16 November 2022, the Salesian Formation Sector of the EAO Region organized a formation course on “Pastoral Accompaniment” for 39 confreres who represented the various provinces of the EAO Region. Among this number were the 7 representatives from Thailand. The course was held at the Salesian Retreat House, Huahin.

From 8-12 November 2022, Fr. Nopphadol Joseph, Fr.Joseph Nguyen Nhat Khoa together with 18 other delegates on Pastoral Youth Ministry of the EAO Region, met and planned together under the theme “A Pastoral Care That Educates to Love”. This was held at the salesian provincial house in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

16-27 November 2022, Fr. Joseph Phuoc, the Regional Superior for the EAO Region, led the discernment process for the new provincial of the salesian confreres of the Province of Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. The communities and confreres were divided into 6 groups, namely: Sarasit Community - Banpong, the Provincial House - Bangkok, Salesian House - Sampran, the salesian communities in Cambodia, Saeng Thong Community - Hatyai, and Don Bosco Community - Udonthani.

The Salesian Youth Movement, led by Fr. Ronachai Mathawaphan, organized the SYM Day Camp under the theme “You Must Give the Best to Jesus”. Fr. Augustine Yarat was invited as the resource person together with the SYM team. This activity was held on 8 November 2022 at St. Dominic School - Bangkok. There were 96 young people who participated. On 11 November 2022, at Don Bosco Technological College - Banpong, there were 110 young participants from the salesian schools and from the schools of the salesian family.

(Salesian Youth Movement)