BANGKOK: 18th December '04 --  Confirmed by Rome and subsequently announced in Bangkok is the appointment  of Fr. John Bosco Thepharat as Provincial of Thailand for the next six years.  He takes up his appointment as soon as possible given that the previous provincial, Joseph Prathan was recently consecrated as Bishop of Tharat Thani,

    The newly appointed provincial, Fr Thepharat, is currently heading up a large school at Ban Saeng Arun, located in the direction of the southern Thailand Surat Thani Diocese.  It is a school of some 200 students.

    Fr Thepharat, who commands both Thai and English as languages, did his early initial formation at Canlubang, Philippines, and from thereon in Thailand itself, first at Hua Hin, then Sampran and Bangkok.

    He was ordained priest in 1982 at Bangkok.  Thereafter he was appointed to Hua Hin (7 years) Banpong (where he eventually became Rector in 1995) and finally as Headmaster of the Salesian School at Ban Saeng Arun.

    He brings to his role now as Provincial of Thailand not only the esteem and support of his confreres, but his long experience and training for the educational mission which strongly characterizes Thai Salesian presence, and his local, valuable and much appreciated contacts with Thai authorities civil and ecclesiastical.