ROME: 30 July
2012 -- The Thai Province has just finished
celebrating the
25th Anniversary of Priesthood of Frs Louis Phonchit
Phoolvithayaij,
Dominic Savio Suphot Riungham, and the 25th Anniversary of
Religious
profession of Bro Dominic Savio Worawut Jirasujarittham on 28
July,
2012 at Don Bosco School, Bangkok. One of the jubilarians, Fr
Suphot,
spoke of the occasion as being "like rain drops, seeing God's
gifts in
abundance".
1. Fr. Louis Phonchit was born 25 May, 1958. He entered the
Salesian
aspirantate at Hua Hin when he was in grade 5. After having
finished
his pre-university studies, he went to the Philippines and
studied at
Don Bosco Seminary, Canlubang. He entered the novitiate in
1978, when
Fr Alfred Cogliandro was the Novice-master. On April 1, 1979
he made
his first Profession. In 1979-1981 he went to study the
philosophical
subjects at The Retreat, Yercaud, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India.
After 2
years of Practical Training, he went to study Theology in the
Philippines. He was ordained on May 23, 1987 in Don Bosco
Church,
Bangkok.
2. Fr Dominic Savio Suphot was born 25 July, 1958. He also
entered the
Salesian aspirantate at Hua Hin when he was in grade 5. He
entered the
novitiate in Don Bosco Seminary, Canlubang, Philippines,
together with
Fr. Louis and another 13 Novices, and made his first
Profession on
April 1, 1979. From 1979-1981 he studied Philosophy in India.
After his
Practical Training, he went to study Theology in UPS, Rome. He
was
ordained on July 11, 1987 in Fatima Church, Ban Saeng Arun,
Prachuab
Khiri Khan, Thailand.
3. Bro Dominic Savio Worawut was born 8 September 1960. While
working,
at the age of 21 one day he read a passage from St. Francis
Xavier
Parish Newsletter; and was moved by the examples of many
people who
followed Christ in religious life. That night he could
not sleep
at all, thinking that the Lord was calling him to follow him
more
closely. The next day, he decided to leave everything and to
detach
from everything (money, work, etc.) and apply to serve the
Lord in the
Salesian Society. He entered the novitiate at Salesianum,
Sampran,
Thailand; and made his first Profession on May 1, 1987.
50 priests concelebrated and 500 people attended the
celebrations. Fr
Louis Phonchit was the main celebrant; Fr Suphot preached the
homily
and Bro Dominic Savio gave a 'thank you' speech at the end of
the Mass.
The singers, conducted by Bro Anusit Chanpen (Assistant to Don
Bosco's
boarders), came from three groups: boarders from Don Bosco
School
(Bangkok), Salesian Aspirants from Nazareth House (Banpong)
and DQM
Aspirants from Pra Mae Mary Sathorn (Bangkok).
Fr Suphot's homily reflected on: "The kingdom of heaven may be
compared
to a man who sowed good seed in his field ..." (Mt 13:24). He
mentioned
three gifts that the Lord has given us: 1) The gift of
Life 2)
The gift of Vocation 3) The gift of Friendship. He also spoke
of the
"Weeds" in our life. Although "weeds" seem to be part of our
life, they
cannot harm us. God allows them to grow together with the good
seed.
But at the end, "weeds" will be burned while the wheat will be
put into
His barn, in the kingdom of heaven. "Thank you, Lord, for 25
years of
Priestly life and 25 years of Salesian life".
