VIENTIANE: August 2, 2014 --Is it new or
is it not? A quick search on the word 'Laos' in the
SDL austraLasia collection suggests not, with a
total of 21 entries. #1045 on 22
February 2005 begins this way: "But I didn't
know the Salesians were in Laos', you say. As
of the 20th February 2005, the date of the first
official visit of the Salesian Regional Fr V.
Klement, the Thai Provincial Fr Depharat (also spelt
Theparat), the Salesian in charge of 'Midt Sam Phan
Service' near Vientiane, Fr Tito Pedron, along with
the Rector of Udonthani, Fr Nophorn, it would be
hard to deny that the Salesians are in Laos." So yes, the Salesians have been
in Laos for 10 years, since 2004 in fact. Part of
the wonder of this presence is that it was begun
under the auspices of the THA Province (under which
it remains) but run by a Thai Past Pupil of Don
Bosco, Mr Sanya, from 2004 until 2012 when the first
Salesians took up residence. There are now three
Salesians in residence: Fr Tito Pedron, Fr Vincent
Minh and Bro Carlo Bacalla. It is not yet a
canonical community, which explains why it is hard
to find in the latest 'Annuario'.
Where
is Laos?
For Salesians from Thailand, the best way to get to
Indochina's only landlocked country and its capital
Vientiane (where the Salesians are) is to fly to Udonthani
and take a car/bus across 'Friendship Bridge' to Vientiane.
It is just 77 kms.
Laos is a single-party Socialist Republic, Communist in
other words. The Church has thrived in such Republics (a
thriving which also disguises much suffering and sacrifice,
or, seen another way, is the fruit of much pain and
sacrifice). Laos also has the dubious distinction of being
the most bombed country, per capita, in the world! It was
bombed incessantly for 9 years during the Vietnam-US war.
New Spring So, talking about
a new spring in Laos is apt. Laos and the Church in Laos are
'on the move', and the Salesians with them it seems. Member
of ASEAN, the WTO, Laos has diplomatic relations with every
country in our EAO Region except the Solomon Islands and
Samoa. And where it doesn't have diplomatic bilateral
relations, Laos has made an art form of the MoU or
Memorandum of Understanding. Fascinatingly, the
Sovereign Military Order of Malta, which has
diplomatic relations with 104 nations including Embassy
status in Palestine, has taken the MoU route for Laos
(whereas in Cambodia it actually has diplomatic
relations). The Salesian activity in Laos comes under
MoU status, and part of the recent visit by the Provincial
from Thailand and discussions with the Young Communist
League concerned renewal of the MoU about to cease this
year, and further development.
The Church has seen development from the small 'seeds' of 2
priests in Vientiane in 2004 to 8 in 2014. Across the
country, in four Vicariates (as yet there is no diocese),
there are now some 20 priests, a good number of religious,
45,000 Catholics. While not yet officially announced, the
OMI Postulation following causes of Saints has indicated
that May 2015 is an 'almost certain' date for the
Beatification of 17 Laotian martyrs, a number of them local
catechists, and OMI and MEP missionaries.
Moving ahead
With 3 SDBs, 3 FMAs running two Vocational Training Units
with boarding facilities (the FMA one is about 3 kms from
ours), and with young Laotian aspirants now in Thailand (for
the Salesians) and Vietnam (for the Sisters), some 650 or
more past pupils from over the decade, we can say that the
Salesian presence in Laos is established.
Where to now?
From what was effectively a 'Pinardi shed' (for motorbike
maintenance) in 2004, to a fully-fledged VTC in 2104, there
are indications it will continue to expand. Connections have
been established. The Young Communist League like the
'non-threatening and friendly' Salesian presence. The
Bishop describes it as 'humble'. There are requests for
another VTC and even a secondary school in northern and
southern Laos. Vocation ministry is in embryonic form, but
from small things, big things grow!
