2002 THA-Cambodia Missionary's Golden Jubilee of priesthood
austraLasia #2002

Worthy celebration of missionary and communicator of the Word - Banpong, Thailand

BANPONG: 9 December 2007 -- Amongst many worthy celebrations of ordination and profession on 8th December this year, we note in particular that of Fr Francis Sacco, Salesian, Sicilian, and a missionary in Thailand since 1958.  Fr Sacco celebrated his Golden Jubilee of Priesthood at Banpong, Thailand, on 8th December this year, where he was joined by thirty concelebrants and one bishop - bishop John Bosco Panya Kritcharoen, bishop of Ratchaburi diocese.
    Fr Sacco, born in Catania in 1929, began his missionary life when he went to India in 1953 for theology.  That gave him the chance to learn English and know of the teachings of other religions.  He also learned something about medicine and its administration, and in the villages there came to be known as 'Father Doctor' for his care of the sick.  By 1958, soon after his ordination in 1957, he was in Thailand and there began a long missionary trail of good works as professor in the seminary (Hua Hin), parish priest (Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, Hat Yai, Chumphon), responsibility for social communication and catechesis (Suratthani diocese), VIce Rector and Bursar (Banpong) and finally confessor at Nazareth House Banpong where he is now.
    The Provincial of the Thai Province, Fr Dheparat Pitisant, described Fr Sacco as 'good professor, good catechist and good parish priest' and the bishop went on to add 'good catechist, spiritual director and model of faithfulness in following Jesus Christ'.  And Fr Sacco himself recalled that his vocation began as a child, reading books and learning about people. From that moment he wanted to 'spread the Word'.  Today, at 78, he remains not only active, visiting people on his bicycle, but filled with the same desire to spread the Word.  He remains intensely interested in media and making CDs to teach catechetics.

      _________________
 AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific.  It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome.  For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use BoscoWiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/RSS/rssala.xml Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at at http://sdl.sdb.org