Bangkok, Thailand, 1 June 2021 -- On 29 May 2021, Archbishop Paul Tschang In-Nam, the Apostolic Nuncio of Thailand, granted the honour of receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation to 8 Italian youth at the chapel of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in Sala Daeng, Bangkok. These candidates received the proper catechetical instructions and preparations by Fr. Charles Velardo, SDB, Sr. Elda Barattino, FMA, and Ms. Cristina di Luigi, a lay faithful. They zealously prepared these young people before the reception of the sacrament.

The pastoral care of Catholic Italians in Thailand is one of ministerial works of the Salesians so that these families working in the country receive good and proper spiritual care.

At present, there are about 5,000 Italians living in Thailand, with 2,000 of them living in Bangkok. Ordinarily, Fr Charles Velardo is the chaplain of this group, offering the Holy Eucharist to them every Sunday. He follows them up closely so that they can live their Christian faith well in spite of being far away from their homeland.