HUA HIN (Thailand): 1st February 2005 -- The Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (SIHM) today opened their 9th General Chapter in the presence of Bishop Joseph Prathan and Fr V Klement.  The latter read out a letter from the Rector Major to the Sisters.

    The Sisters were founded in Ratchaburi Diocese in 1937 by Monsignor, later to become Bishop, Gaetano Pasotti, the then Salesian Vicar Apostolic of Ratchaburi.  They currently number 96 Sisters with a further 13 aspirants.  They have 11 communities and are strongly involved in Surat Thani diocese where Bishop Prathan has been recently appointed.

    Amongst the Sisters' communities and works are several in the difficult Southern area of Thailand which has been dealing not only with the recent tsunami (Bishop Prathan is kindly nicknamed 'the tsunami Bishop' in Thailand) but with civil unrest.  The Bishop is particularly grateful for the Sisters' witness, so is spending the full six days with them at their Chapter.

    The theme for the 9th General Chapter is 'SIHM Sisters as zealous missionaries dedicated to the local Church'.  The Apostolic Nuncio to Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar, Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio attended the opening of the Chapter this morning and delivered a message of fidelity to their founder based on a Eucharistic life.

    The Rector Major's message drew parallels with the 2005 Strenna, urging the Sisters to continue their zeal for local evangelisation and rejuvenation of the Church.  The Rector Major's interest in this Salesian Family group was further enhanced by the presence of the Thai SDB Provincial Council.  The FMA Provincial and delegate also took part.  The Salesian Informatiion Centre Bampong, Bro Chitti with the help of the 3 novices, have helped with digital records of the event.

_____________________