Thailand: Don Bosco
receives a "thunderous welcome with prayer and songs"
BANGKOK: 27-11-10 -- Don Bosco’s casket has been in Thailand for
eight days now ( Nov. 18-30). Fr Dheparat, the Provincial, is keen to
express the response and the experience.
"It has been a great blessing for us and the
Salesian family in Thailand to have Don Bosco’s Casket and his relics
among us. For a year the Salesian Family in Thailand has been involved
in preparations to welcome Don Bosco and allow his presence to be
a great boost for our Salesian spiritual renewal and unity of the
members as the Salesian Family in Thailand. ( We have 8 groups of
Salesian Family members including two local Sisters’ Congregations).
The long term and immediate preparation before
the arrival of Don Bosco’s casket included materials in preparation for
the event being sent to all 40 houses and institutions of the Salesian
Family. Amongst these were exhibitions and posters on the life and
works of Don Bosco, different liturgical celebrations and prayers, Don
Bosco’s songs in Thai version both traditional and newly composed for
the event, guidelines for play or drama for students, 30 different
kinds of lovely Don
Bosco souvenirs and a Thai translation of “Don Bosco che ride” written
by Fr. Luigi Chiavarino with 40,000 copies were given to each student
to read. Many schools have been using the book as a text book in class.
The book has been used for contest purposes such as essays and
compositions, questions and answers, drama etc.
One month before the arrival of the casket,
interviews and talks on a television channel offering knowledge about
the casket and relics as well as the life of Don Bosco and his mission
were organized by the past pupils and aired on three occasions for an
hour each time. This television program was very useful as Thailand is
a buddhist country. Many articles on the visit of Don Bosco’s casket ,
life and mission of Don Bosco, the Salesian Congregation and Salesian
Family have been published in Catholic and public newspapers and
journals. These preparations built up the spirit of expectations,
excitement, spiritual renewal, happiness and cooperation little by
little before the arrival of Don Bosco’s casket on the morning of
Novemver 18. 2010.
Bishop Joseph Prathan sdb. Fr. Provicial,
Vice-Provincial, the Mother Superior of the FMA went to the airport to
welcome Don Bosco. From the airport, Don Bosco’ casket was led by
police car and brought to the Provincial house where 400 Salesian
Family members welcomed him with flags, balloons, brass brand and Thai
dance. Bro. Hilario, who accompanied the casket from South Korea,
presented the Key of the casket to Fr.Provincial who in turn gave the
Key to the Vice-Provincial signalling that the itinerary Don Bosco’
casket in Thailand was under the direction of the Vice-Provincial. Then
the long procession of cars led by three police motorcades
through Bangkok's regular traffic jam went to Don Bosco Technical
School, Bangkok for the morning official welcome of the Salesian
family.
At Don Bosco school, around 1,200 senior students
and 500 Salesian Family members were on hand to give a big and
thunderous welcome to Don Bosco. Then the congregation led the Casket
in procession to Don Bosco church where there was an hour's VCD
presentation on Don Bosco's life and mission and the history of the
Salesian Family in Thailand. This began 17 days of the spiritual jouney
for Don Bosco’ casket in Thailand and then Cambodia (Nov. 18 - Dec
4,2010)".
At this point Fr Dheparat indicates that he will further report on the
Casket's journey through Thailand: "I feel obliged to do
this because the coming of Don Bosco's Casket is testimonial
proof that Thai youth and the Thai people love Don Bosco so much.
So far, in each place that Don Bosco visited, it was really a big
welcome. I would say that it was thunderous with prayer and songs. If
the place is connected with the Salesian parishes or chapels, long
lines of confessions and holy communion could be happily seen. The
churches are open throughout the night until morning for prayer
and vigil. These days are the great days of Don Bosco in Thailand. It
is a great blessing for us and the Salsian Family. I think it will be
the same in Cambodia as Salesians are carrying out a wonderful mission
for Cambodia. A huge thanks to the Rector Major for this wonderful and
marvellous opportunity. It is a spiritual renewal for us and a stepping
stone for a good collaboration among the Salesian Family members in
Thailand".
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