austraLasia #2651 Papal 'Cross' for missionary in Thailand
BANGKOK: 30-05-10 -- The already much-honoured and awarded Fr
Charles Velardo, director of the Skills Development Centre for the
Blind, Pakkred, Thailand, is to receive the Papal decoration 'Pro
ecclesia et Pontifice' on 27 June 2010, the date which celebrates the
5th year of the pontificate of Benedict XVI.. Fr Charles was recently
informed of the honour by the Papal Nuncio to Thailand Archbishop
Pennacchio. The award will be made in a simple ceremony following Mass
at the Assumption Cathedral on that day.
Fr Velardo has featured in these pages now over a
number of years (he has spent 30 plus years working for the blind), and
a quick resumé of recent activity soon underscores the breadth
of activity and depth of charity exercised by this good Salesian
missionary.
In 2006, he was awarded the Most Admirable Order of
Direkgunabhorn, a Royal honour. The fact that Fr Velardo is not Thai
(he is Italian) made that conferment all the more prestigious. In
2008 the Thai Government saw fit to award him with 'Outstanding Person
in the Field of Disability', for obvious reasons.
In the meantime, Fr Velardo was demonstrating
considerable creativity in his work with the blind, including a 'Tour
de Thailande' where he had his blind cyclists join a Tour that raises
money for leukemia sufferers. His activity was not restricted to
energetic pursuits only. He was also 'virtual chaplain' to 500
top Italian chefs dotted around the world! Over all these years, until
recently, he was also Provincial Economer and took part in reaching a
significant MOU agreement with the Laotian Government on a new scheme
involving training in technical skills for the poor and disadvantaged
in Vientianne.
2009 brought recognition for his work from the St
Matthew Foundation which awards the Van Thuan Solidarity and
Development Prize set up to honour Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van
Thuan. This award is tied in directly with the Pontifical Council for
Justice and Peace.
And now 2010 is crowned with a Cross! But not
without its other laurels, including the opening earlier this year of
the Don Bosco Sports Centre for the Blind. _________________ AustraLasia is an
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