austraLasia #2300

Thai Salesian Deacon ordained in Melbourne

30th November 2008 -- Interestingly enough, as several dozen European provincials were meeting in Rome with the Rector Major to plan 'Project Europe' and discuss various inter-provincial, cross-regional and intra-regional cooperation, in another part of the world, in Melbourne Australia, a prime example of such cooperation reached a high point: the diaconate ordination of Thai Salesian and now deacon, Monthon Rojjanasutadkul.  Monthon was ordained deacon on Saturday 29th November by Salesian Bishop Tim Costelloe, Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne Archdiocese, in St John's Clifton Hill, a Salesian parish in Bishop Tim's region.
    Priests from the archdicoese, religious and of course Salesians from the Victorian communities (Melbourne is capital of the State of Victoria) were present in large numbers. All have come to know and appreciate Monthon in the years he has spent studying in the Australia-Pacific Province, and their presence in such large numbers was witness to the esteem he is held in.
    The occasion was poignant for one other reason - the absence of the Thai Provincial, Fr Dheparat Pitisant, and Monthon's family members, sadly prevented from leaving Bangkok by political turmoil in that nation.
    Bishop Tim had been Monthon's former Rector, and spoke very warmly of Monthon, the Salesian Province of Thailand, and Monthon's warm acceptance in the province where he and a number of other Salesian students from the East Asia-Oceania Region have been able to pursue their studies. In the absence of family, the privilege of giving Monthon his diaconal stole and dalmatic went to Fr Frank Freeman, long time friend of the new deacon, who was on the staff of Salesian Theological College for Monthon's first years in Australia.
    Those present at the ordination were greatly impressed by the music for all parts of the Mass which had been especially composed for the occasion by Fr Marc Barry SDB, assistant parish priest of Clifton Hill.  A moving moment, after the Communion, was when Bro Vichiensaeng, also from Thailand, accompanied the parish choir with guitar, singing a Thai hymn. The choir had spent weeks learning the Thai words.
    At the conclusion of the Mass, newly ordained Deacon Monthon sincerely thanked those who had helped him thus far in his journey. He thanked his "Mum and Dad and family, cherished Salesian Congregation, beloved Province of Thailand, and many friends in Australia".
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Title: australasia 2300
Subject and key words: EAO Provinces AUL, THA Diaconate ordination Monthon
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2300