DonBoscoASIA

Yokohama Salesian School celebrates 50 years

YOKOHAMA: 12 December 2010 -- This year has seen the fiftieth anniversary of the foundation of the Salesian school at Yokohama. The commemoration took place on two occasions, one the official date of 4 December for past pupils and other guests, and the other on 8 December, for today's pupils, currently numbering in excess of a thousand.

Opened in 1960 in Meguro, Tokyo, the school was then transferred to its present site at Kawasaki, surmounting difficulties to develop and become renowned throughout the region. In 1968 the infant school was built and now has 220 children in it. At the beginning of the 70s the Saginuma church was built, and soon became a parish. The church has been extended twice and the parish now has 2200 Catholics. An SDB and an FMA residence were built. In 1974 the hostel became an aspirantate with a festive oratory attached. In 1995 the work was then rebuilt five kilometres from Yokohama in the new suburb of Tsuzuki with the parish and infant school remaining at Saginuma.

At the beginning of the commemoration ceremony on 4 December the Prefect of Kanagawa Province, Mr Shigefumi Matsuzawa, congratulated the Salesians and their lay staff for the competence and professionalism of their educational work. Bishop Raphael Umemura Masahiro was the chief celebrant at the Mass, and expressed satisfaction, during the homily, for the fact that he had a Salesian school in his diocese.

After mass and prior to a sumptuous lunch the Nuncio, Archbishop Alberto Bottari De Castello, conferred the Knights Cross of St Gregory on Mr Thomas Norihisa Maeda who has spent the last 40 years beside the Salesians, especially the aspirantate, generously and kindly offering help.

The Yokohama school is outstanding for the its religious education and for its academic results. Many of its students have gained entry to Japan's most prestigious universities.

"...perhaps with the hope that God’s grace could be mediated by this new technology"

VICTORIAS: December 7, 2010 -- The main story continues to be the DB Casket in Southern Philippines, but a chance line in the first paragraph of our  correspondent's account, along with a vigorous discussion by some theology students elsewhere in the world (but including one from FIS Province) on post-modern contemporary 'icons' and whether they can channel God's grace - or block it, gave some focus to this particular part of Don Bosco's visit, at least for some readers.  But back to the main story....

"St. John Bosco’s relic had a rousing welcome from the residents of Victorias Milling Company. Students from private and public schools lined the streets waving flaglets and shouting 'welcome'! The whole day had moments of festivity and veneration. During prayer moments, people lit candles and stood in silence. Photographing was the hardest to control. People wanted to take pictures not only for souvenirs but to send to their loved ones, perhaps with the hope that God’s grace could be mediated by this new technology. Boys took photos to send to their parents who were at work, and parents sent photos to friends and children who could not come.

The students and alumni of Don Bosco Technical Institute held a cultural show entitled “Thank you Don Bosco” to signify that the saint continues to be alive in their midst. The veneration by students and visitors continued the whole night.

On the morning of the 7th the Relic took a long detour going to the Parish of St. Joseph. Municipal workers requested the day before to have the relic pass by their establishment. They got their wish. The police force joined in the short impromptu prayer service. From there they requested a procession which took but a minute to decide, considering that normally a permit is needed to disrupt the traffic flow. The chief of police who was there gave the exception and asked his officers to accompany St John Bosco to the parish church of Our Lady of Victory, passing by the main road in the middle of business establishments where people courteously stepped out to wave and make a sign of the cross.
Another procession took place just a few metres away from St. Joseph parish. This time not only children came to meet the saint. Factory workers from the milling station went out still wearing their hard hats and prayerfully waved at the passing relic. Fr Joemar Bacucang, SDB led his parishioners in welcoming St John Bosco. In a moving homily, he mentioned how the family of Don Bosco has grown in numbers. But more important, those who have come to pray to him must be moved to imitate his example of living holy lives that is visibly seen in how we bring God’s love to others".

New Indonesia Delegation (ITM) launches 'Laura'

JAKARTA: 5 December 2010 -- Fr Peter Tukan SDB, as head of the Social Communications Commission for the Indonesia Delegation, today launched  "Laura", an Indonesian film based on the story of Blessed Laura Vicuna. During the launching ceremony, Fr Yohanes Boedirahardjo SDB, the superior of the Indonesian Delegation, hailed this event as one of the first efforts of the Indonesia Delegation (ITM), using the film/movie, to promote the Salesian charism in this country. Meanwhile the ceremony allotted time to introduce and thank the production team, the cast of characters and the technicians involved in the making of this movie. It was noted that the actors and persons involved were from different social and religious backgrounds, and had to familiarize themselves with the Salesian style. In coordination with the Archdiocese of Jakarta, the film will be shown in the parishes and will also be shown in a local TV station on Christmas Day.

The whole Salesian family was involved, helping in one way or another.... even some Salesian confreres and Sisters were cast into the movie with minor roles or part of the crowd. The film, in compact disk format, is planned to be sold together with the Indonesian translation of the biography of Blessed Laura Vicuna... so that the original story of Blessed Laura Vicuna will be made known.
Although St John Bosco or the other holy models of the Salesian Family could have been the first to be made into a movie, Laura Vicuna was the choice because of the similarity of issues in Indonesia regarding the promotion of family and moral values, the sacrament of matrimony, the respect for children and women, the need for heroes, domestic violence, poverty, care for youth in need, and many others. This film becomes also an occasion to make the FMA sisters more known in Indonesia because presently, the SDB's have 6 presences and the FMA's have two.

Phnom Penh -- DBNA -- The Minister of Education, Sport and Youth of Cambodia, Im Sothy, visited this morning the compound of the Don Bosco Technical School in the capital district of Phnom Penh Thmey, and underlined the role of the Don Bosco schools in the recovery of Cambodia after the wars.

Minister Sothy said that the Khmer Rouge Regime (1975 - 1979) caused a great humanitarian disaster in the country. After it, many organizations came to support especially orphan children and youth and among them was Don Bosco.

During the war, Cambodia itself was terrible divided, said the Minister who was welcomed solemnly by students, teachers and members of the DBFC. He continued saying in the speech that when Don Bosco came to Cambodia, those divisions and violence were still in the country. The government tried to find around Phnom Penh a place for Don Bosco. Then they decided for this place [Phnom Penh Thmey], but it was so far from Phnom Penh City at the time (1991) and it was a real jungle, ponds and rice fields. The site needed to be refilled with sand in order to construct the buildings and workshops of the school.

In the ceremony was also present Mgr. Oliviere Schmitthaeusler, Catholic Bishop of the Vicariate of Phnom Penh, who will preside a religious ceremony tomorrow in the campus.

The Minister, who talked for about 20 minutes in front to the Don Bosco Casket and near two thousand persons, said to the students and past pupils of the holy educator:

'We do not know each other... but we know Don Bosco'

Fr. John Visser, DBFC country representative talking on the occasion of the Don Bosco Casket to Cambodia.

Phnom Penh DBNA — A delegation of teachers and members of the Don Bosco Foundation of Cambodia went on Wednesday, December 1st, to wait the arrival of the Don Bosco Casket in the Poipet International Gate early morning. At the other side of the border, in Thailand, a big group of also teachers and members of the Salesian Order in that country, were traveling from Bangkok to lead the relic into the neighboring country. It supposed to enter at about 10 AM, but some problems in the checking in delayed it until the afternoon.

The Urn with the relic of Saint John Boscostepped in the Cambodian soil at 3:05 PM. It was accompanied by Fr. Dheparat, the Salesian superior of the Don Bosco schools in Thailand, Cambodia and recently Laos. At the Cambodian side was Fr. Leonard Ocho, the DBFC{s deputy country representative, Fr. Gabriel Kan, rector of Don Bosco Children Home in Poipet.

The Casket in Poipet

The relic was brought to the campus of Don Bosco school in Poipet at 4 PM where about 500 children, youth and teachers were waiting to see the face of the man that gave meaning to their life through a big project of education and protection, even if that man died 122 years ago in 1888. It is the Urn that keeps the relics of him, John Bosco of Turin. It has began its pilgrims through the five continents in June 2009 to celebrate the 150 years of the foundation of the educational order of Don Bosco, known as the Salesian Family in honor to another holy man, Saint Francis de Sales, from which Don Bosco carved the name for his group, the Salesians : There are Salesian fathers, Salesian brothers, Salesian teachers, Salesian schools, Salesian groups, Salesian sisters, Salesian past pupils and everything related with Don Bosco and his educational preventive method, is identified as ‘Salesian.’

In Cambodia, Salesian students, teacher, past pupils, officials and other organizations, call it as Sala Don Bosco (Don Bosco schools), or as the modern Cambodian youth use to say, Sala Don, knowing already the meaning of the Italian word Don as Puk (dad or father.)

The students in Poipet prepared a cultural program to honor the relic that was only one hour in the school´s campus. Fr. Gabriel Kan, a South Korean who leads the center since 2008, said to Don Bosco News Agency (DBNA) :

‘I thanks very much to the Cambodian government for its generosity to allow the Don Bosco Casket entering in the country. I am very happy to have the relic here at the school. If the Cambodian youth wants to know more about Don Bosco, just come to visit our schools.’

Battambang Andaung Cheng

The Urn was put on the Italian car that has ran through three continents already to begin its journey to the royal capital. It was scheduled a stop in Battambang where DBFC has been present sinceJanuary 4, 1993 with two literacy centers to rescue children from the child labor exploitation, especially from the brick´s factories. The Andong Cheng literacy school, now scheduled to become also the first Don Bosco agricultural technical school.

The Casket was located in the campus of Don Bosco Andaung Cheng where Fr. Pierre Tunlop Sophal and Fr. Pedro Gómez of the Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang, came to honor the Catholic saint.

Arriving to Phnom Penh

A cortege made by the Italian car bringing the Casket and two other two vehicles with members of DBFC left Battambang at 9 PM. While in the campus of Don Bosco Technical School in the capital district of Phnom Penh Thmey (in English ‘New Phnom Penh’), more than one thousand students and teachers of the schools of Tekla, Tuol Kok and Phnom Penh Thmey were waiting.

‘We were singing in the campus since 9 PM, waiting for Don Bosco to come,’ said a young student from Kompong Thom, who is also a boarder in the technical school.

The students of the Salesian sisters were also in the night of waiting and few people could sleep the night from December 1st to 2nd.

Exactly at midnight, the Casket enters the campus of what was the first work of Don Bosco in Cambodia. In 1991 the Phnom Penh Thmey District was just a rice field. I myself remember a silent rural area near the airport. Going out in the night was dangerous and the school was the only developed spot in the middle of the fields. Now it is probably one of the most thriving districts of the capital, while the technical school campus is surrounded by condominiums and factories.

The musical band of the school was in line waiting for the entrance of the relic. Fr. John Visser, the DBFC’s country representative, Fr. Roel Soto, rector of Don Bosco Phnom Penh and Fr. Eugene Xalxo from Don Bosco Sihanoukville, carried the Urn until the place where the educational community gathered to pay honors.

Battambang -- At 15:05 the Urn with the Don Bosco Relic touched the Cambodian territory in the Poipet International Gate and it was brought to the Don Bosco Children Home, a center that was opened in 2002 to shelter child victims of human traffic and orphans. Because there was a delay in the check in, the Casket left Poipet at 16:10 to Battambang transported in the Italian car that has ran through the roads of three continents already. It is expected that the Urn will arrive the Don Bosco Technical School of the Phnom Penh Thmey district at midnight.

Poipet -- The Urn in the Don Bosco Children Home is honored by the educational community.

Poipet -- The Casket of Saint John Bosco.

Poipet -- As Don Bosco was after his death in January 31, 1888.

Poipet-Aranyapraeth Border -- An international driver. He is the Italian driver that has brought the Don Bosco Casket through roads of three continents: Europe, America and now Asia. The driver of Don Bosco.

Aranyapraet-Poipet Border -- This is the car that was designed to bring the Don Bosco Casket. It will run until 2015 when the relic will return to Turin for the 200th anniversary of the birth of Saint John Bosco. The car is crossing from Thailand into Cambodia

Bishop cancels parish Sunday Masses to encourage faithful to celebrate with Don Bosco

(A summary of an extensive set of reports from Fr Dheparat, however from comments received back here, a number of readers are looking for more!)

RATCHABURI: 30 Nov 2010 -- "It was a diocese that Salesians have worked in for 41 years, Ratchaburi, and neither the people nor the Bishop were about to miss an occasion to celebrate the arrival of Don Bosco's Casket. On its arrival on 21 November, the Bishop and the local clergy, 4000 students and  a good number of parishioners welcomed Don Bosco; one of the churches the Casket passed on the way greeted Don Bosco with 40,000 fire crackers!  On the following Sunday, the Bishop cancelled all 9.00 am masses in the diocese to enable the faithful to attend the Eucharistic celebration at the cathedral in honour of St. John Bosco. The cathedral was packed and many faithful were sitting in the tent outside. The bishop used most of his homily to praise the Salesians for their good work for the good of souls, mentioning many whom he knew personally and citing the good things they did.

Then on to Banpong, a town where the first Salesian school was founded in 1927. Now, there are two Salesian schools, a senior students’ aspirantate, a parish and one FMA school. The total number of Salesian students are 5,600 and they were joined by 1500 faithful who welcomed Don Bosco. And again a whole night prayer and vigil with  huge numbers for confession and holy communion.

Finally it was Suratthani diocese's turn to welcome the casket from November 23-27. At present, there around 30 Salesians helping  the diocese in parishes,schools and pastoral centres in three Salesian presences. Bishop Joseph Prathan sdb. followed the casket  throughout the journey.

On November 23, the day that the Casket entered the Suratthani diocese, her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Sirindhorn officiated at the grand royal opening of Don Bosco Home, Bangsak, Phangna. Don Bosco Home Bangsak is the home for the tsunami-affected children. It has already been open for 5 years but the invitation for the Princess to inaugurate the Home was made four years ago. The way we see it is that her acceptance to inaugurate Don Bosco Home during Don Bosco’s visit was really a  providential arrangement. Her visit showed great honour and public approval  for our Salesian work for disadvantaged children and since Don Bosco could not visit the place (as it is very far away on the western coast), the Princess did it for him! At night in the daily television news, all channels reported on the Princess’ visit to Don Bosco Home, allowing  the public to know more about Don Bosco and his work in Thailand.

It  is worth noting that all the Salesian schools and parishes celebrated a novena before the arrival of the casket. It first went to  Hua-Hin with a Salesian school with 3,600 students, a  retreat house, an aspirantate for junior high school students and a parish.

Throughout the 5 day journey in the South, Don Bosco’s casket visited the Cathedral,  two Salesian parishes, three diocesan schools ( two of which are under the care of the Salesians), three schools run by other groups in the Salesian family. Each place brought out its best welcome for Don Bosco, making it a most important feast. At Bansaengarun school and parish, a hundred students and parishioners used a big rope to move the casket, imitating the local southern culture of using rope to move the car on which a statue of Buddha stands. At Don Bosco technical school in Suratthani, the teachers organized the vigil for Don Bosco until morning before sending him off to other places.

The journey in the south and elsewhere in Thailand proved that Don Bosco arranged everything for his sons and daughters so that nobody would be worried or under stress in welcoming him. With such a long journey in the south of more than 1,000 kilometers and many visits, the casket always arrived on time, making nobody tired of waitng for him. Everybody was happy. Nobody was disappointed. Everybody could pray in front of Don Bosco’s relics and touched the casket. Don Bosco made the miracle for us".

We carry forth your flame

HENDERSON (SI): 29 November 2010 -- A spirit of joy, happiness, contentment and thanksgiving filled the air as seventy seven students who completed their secondary and trade courses at Don Bosco Technical Institute, Henderson, in the Solomon Islands, graduated on Friday 26 November, 2010, in the presence of an august gathering.

1Archbishop Adrian Smith sm, Archbishop of Honiara, presided at the Solemn Eucharistic celebration. Fr. Cor Hooymayers sm, Fr. Michael Laap sdb, Rector of Don Bosco Rural Training Centre, Fr. Pankaj Xalxo sdb, Administrator, Fr. Ambrose Pereira sdb, Rector of DBTI and Fr. Mario Vaz sdb, Don Bosco Engineering and Management College, Mumbai were concelebrants.
The theme was: We carry forth your flame.  In his homily Fr. Cor challenged the youngsters to visibly demonstrate what they have learnt at Don Bosco.  “Carry the flame of Christ and show to your family, community and country what you have learned”, he said.  The Eucharist was animated by lively singing and had a variety of custom dances right throughout the liturgy.
The Graduation Ceremony then followed.  Sir Peter Kenilorea and Margaret Kenilorea were the chief guests for the occasion.  Mr. John Wate, TVET division, Mr Bernard Rapasia, TVET, Mr. Tom Joyce, Curriculum Development centre, Mr. Jullian Tradeway, Dr. John Roughan, Industrial representatives, friends, relatives and well-wishers graced the occasion with their presence.
Welcoming the gathering, John Kaura, DBTI head boy, congratulated the graduates and expressed his gratitude for the possibility of being educated at Don Bosco.

Congratulating the graduates, Fr. Ambrose Pereira encouraged them to light up the path for many other young boys and girls.  “You make us proud”, he said and praised their achievements that have been based on deep commitment, attention to safety, a stress on honesty and a firm commitment to duty.
Highlighting the Educational system of Don Bosco, Fr. Mario Vaz sdb, Director of the Engineering and Management College, Mumbai, India said, “Here at Don Bosco, you have not only learned to use your head and your hands, but also your heart”.

The graduates then proudly approached the dais to receive their certificates, symbol of the years of commitment to duty, study and sacrifice.  Embraces, hugs, wishes and tears were exchanged as friends and family congratulated the graduates.

Sir Peter Keniloria reminded the entire gathering of the motto of Don Bosco, Give me souls, take away the rest. “In our great excitement to put to use our qualifications to enrich ourselves, it would do us good to remember the value of self-sacrifice and living for the good of others, especially the youth of our nation, for which Don Bosco Technical Institute and its founder is known throughout the community and around the world”, he said.

In conclusion, Sir Peter congratulated and thanked Don Bosco on the 10th Anniversary of its existence.  “It is no secret that your period of establishment has been a period of unprecedented national social and security upheaval. Yet your commendable success is a witness to the spirit of sacrifice, dedication and self-denial, which is the epiphany of Don Bosco”, he said.

Thai Provincial's report on the DB Casket continued ...

BANGKOK: 27-11-10 -- Today, November 27 2010, Don Bosco’s casket travelled by plane from Had Yai, the city in the deep south of Thailand, bordering Malaysia, to the provincial house in Bangkok, where the parishioners and Salesian family members welcomed him with a solemn Eucharistic celebration in the evening followed by stage shows and a prayer vigil.
Following the first report, on the first day of the arrival of Don Bosco’s casket to Thailand, November 18, 2010, the official welcome to Thailand for Don Bosco was held at Don Bosco church in Bangkok. The evening solemn Eucharistic celebration was presided over by the Arcbhishop of Bangkok flanked by two other bishops. Of course, one of them was Salesian Bishop Joseph Prathan, while the other two were former students in the seminary the Salesians were responsible for.
The entrance song, “Sapientiam” sang by Salesian Family members with the Salesian aspirants created the feeling that Don Bosco was really with us. The big Don Bosco church could not contain the great number of the faithful who came from Bangkok, and provinces near and far. There were around 1,500 faithful inside and outside the church. It was a large number of faithful when compared to  the 0.5 percent of Catholics in the country. There were long lines of confessions before mass and such a huge number receiving holy communion. In his homily, the Archbishop, who spent a year taking a course  in spirituality at the UPS, talked at length about the life and the mission of Don Bosco based on his dream at the age of 9. At the end of the mass Fr Provincial gave a formal speech welcoming Don Bosco to Thailand using the words of a son addressing his father and promised him a safe trip around Thailand. The church was open for the whole night for the faithful and the youth to pray before him. The past pupils of Don Bosco school organized the prayer vigil for different groups lasting through until morning.

The following morning, Don Bosco’s casket travelled around Bangkok to visit St Dominic school and St Mary's school which belong to the Salesian Family. At St Dominic's, 2,800 boys welcomed Don Bosco with shouts of joy. Each student had an opportunity to pay his respects and pray before the casket. Both schools, especially St Dominic'sl have had a  long preparation academically and spiritually before the arrival of the casket. Therefore, the real presence of Don Bosco’s casket brought their expectations to a climax. The casket returned in the evening to Don Bosco church for the solemn Eucharistic celebration at which Fr Provincial presided. At first. we thought that fewer faithful would be present as most them had attended the ceremony on the first day. However, we were completely wrong;  numbers were no different from the first day and its all night vigil.
From November 20-22 the casket travelled to the Ratchaburi diocese which was under the care of the Salesians for 41 years and the place where the first Salesians stayed and learned Thai language and culture when they came to Thailand in 1927. The welcome of the local clergy and the faithful in the diocese showed their very deep gratitude and appreciation for the great work the Salesians did for them, and which they could not forget.  The name of the Bishop of Rachaburi diocese, incidentally, is John Bosco Panya, who was trained under the Salesians in the minor seminary and did his philosophy and theology in Bangalore and Shillong, India.

The next report will tell of the interesting events at Ratchaburi diocese and at Salesian institutions in this diocese before the casket’s trip to Suratthani diocese under Bishop Joseph Prathan sdb. Those who would like to follow  the journey of Don Bosco’ casket in Thailand can also do so through www.iamsit.net

Thailand: Don Bosco receives a "thunderous welcome with prayer and songs"

BANGKOK: 27-11-10 -- Don Bosco’s casket has been in Thailand for eight days now ( Nov. 18-30). Fr Dheparat, the Provincial, is keen to express the response and the experience.

"It has been a great blessing for us and the Salesian family in Thailand to have Don Bosco’s Casket and his relics among us. For a year the Salesian Family in Thailand has been involved in preparations to welcome Don Bosco and allow his presence to be a great boost for our Salesian spiritual renewal and unity of the members as the Salesian Family in Thailand. ( We have  8 groups of Salesian Family members including two local Sisters’ Congregations).     The long term and immediate  preparation before the arrival of Don Bosco’s casket included materials in preparation for the event being sent to all 40 houses and institutions of the Salesian Family. Amongst these were exhibitions and posters on the life and works of Don Bosco, different liturgical celebrations and prayers, Don Bosco’s songs in Thai version both traditional and newly composed for the event, guidelines for play or drama for students, 30 different kinds of lovely Don Bosco souvenirs and a Thai translation of “Don Bosco che ride” written by Fr. Luigi Chiavarino with 40,000 copies were given to each student to read. Many schools have been using the book as a text book in class. The book has been used for contest purposes such as essays and compositions, questions and answers, drama etc.

One month before the arrival of the casket, interviews and talks on a television channel offering knowledge about the casket and relics as well as the life of Don Bosco and his mission were organized by the past pupils and aired on three occasions for an hour each time. This television program was very useful as Thailand is a buddhist country. Many articles on the visit of Don Bosco’s casket , life and mission of Don Bosco, the Salesian Congregation and Salesian Family have been published in Catholic and public newspapers and journals. These preparations built up the spirit of  expectations, excitement, spiritual renewal, happiness and cooperation little by little before the arrival of Don Bosco’s casket on the morning of Novemver 18. 2010.

Bishop Joseph Prathan sdb. Fr. Provicial, Vice-Provincial, the Mother Superior of the FMA went to the airport to welcome Don Bosco. From the airport, Don Bosco’ casket was led by police car and brought to the Provincial house where 400 Salesian Family members welcomed him with flags, balloons, brass brand and Thai dance. Bro. Hilario, who accompanied the casket from South Korea, presented the Key of the casket to Fr.Provincial who in turn gave the Key to the Vice-Provincial signalling that the itinerary Don Bosco’ casket in Thailand was under the direction of the Vice-Provincial. Then the long procession of cars led by three police motorcades  through Bangkok's regular traffic jam went to Don Bosco Technical School, Bangkok for the morning official welcome of the Salesian family.

At Don Bosco school, around 1,200 senior students and 500 Salesian Family members were on hand to give a big and thunderous welcome to Don Bosco. Then the congregation led the Casket in procession  to Don Bosco church where there was an hour's VCD presentation on Don Bosco's life and mission and the history of the Salesian Family in Thailand. This began 17 days of the spiritual jouney for Don Bosco’ casket in Thailand and then Cambodia (Nov. 18 - Dec 4,2010)".

At this point Fr Dheparat indicates that he will further report on the Casket's journey through Thailand:  "I feel  obliged to do this because the coming of Don Bosco's Casket is  testimonial proof that  Thai youth and the Thai people love Don Bosco so much. So far, in each place that Don Bosco visited, it was really a big welcome. I would say that it was thunderous with prayer and songs. If the place is connected with the Salesian parishes or chapels, long lines of confessions and holy communion could be happily seen. The churches are open throughout the night until  morning for prayer and vigil. These days are the great days of Don Bosco in Thailand. It is a great blessing for us and the Salsian Family. I think it will be the same in Cambodia as Salesians are carrying out a wonderful mission for Cambodia. A huge thanks to the Rector Major for this wonderful and marvellous opportunity. It is a spiritual renewal for us and a stepping stone for a good collaboration among the Salesian Family members in Thailand".