4277_THA – Installation of new provincial

February 2, 2017

By Bro. Kriengsak Joseph and Social Communication Team

Bangkok, Thailand, 2 February 2017 -- Amidst of 700 young people, members of the Salesian Family (including 60 SDB) from Thailand, Cambodia and Laos Fr. John Bosco Thepharat Pitisant was installed as the 16th THA provincial.

The three-fold celebration in the Don Bosco Chapel of Don Bosco Technological College in Bangkok lasting 2.5 hours included also the celebration of the Provincial community day and anniversaries of 3 confreres: Br. Paul Chun (60 years of religious profession), Br. Chitti (25 years of religious profession) and Fr. Frank Lorenzi (50 years of priestly ordination).

The Eucharist in Thai was presided by outgoing provincial Fr. Paul Prasert. In his homily he invited all present to belong more to God (cf. Feast of the Presentation), to take more responsibility about fraternal communion in the Salesian Family and daily committed witnessing to each specific vocation. Members of 10 groups of Salesian Family were present.

The profession of faith by the new provincial was pronounced in Latin, and the greetings of the East Asia – Oceania SDB regional councilor shared in English. At the end Fr. John Bosco received symbolically his Road Map prepared by the Rector Major few days ago.

In his first greeting as new provincial Fr Thepharat addressed first the two senior celebrants who spent faithfully more year as consecrated Salesians – both Br. Chun and Fr. Frank 60 years as Salesians ‘as more important than the new provincial!’ Then he shared his experience of the recent five days visit in the General House in Rome – giving thanks for the trust of the Rector Major, for the positive and encouraging sharing with the councilors and his meeting with the Vice-president of Don Bosco Alumni whom he already invited to visit Thailand.

At the end the new provincial of Thailand, Cambodia and Laos invited all present for collaboration, the only way how to make the Congregation and Salesian family progress; showing his cell phone with his old phone number pledged to listen to all and requested prayers from the confreres and Salesian family members.

The whole carefully prepared celebration was concluded with lunch and cultural items in the playground of Don Bosco Technological College Bangkok shared by the student from various Salesian schools.