CHIANG MAI: August 3, 2014 --Mention
Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, and many things come to
mind in a religious context:
- the local Bishop has been applauded for his Pope
Francis-like approach to his people. You can find photos
of him working in the rice fields beside them.
- The Chiang Mai Declaration by indigenous peoples in
2000: "We are Indigenous Peoples and call ourselves
Aymara, Igorot, Ainu, Lahu, Yau, Akha, Taiyah, Karen,
Dalit, Adivasi, Limbu, Manangey, Jumma, Kadazan, Rote,
Chin, Ibanag, Australian Aborigines of Meriam and Torres
Straits Islander, Paiwan, Pazeh, and Naga."
- Telling the Story of Jesus, 2006, when the FABC looked
at ways of evangelising in Asia and chose Chiang Mai for
this Asia-wide event.
- The Chiang Mai Declaration by the World Council of
Churches in 2009.
And amidst all of this is the flourishing Salesian
Community, looking after catechists, young people from
the hill tribes, an aspirantate, and a farm which helps
support the entire enterprise.
A fruitful presence The
Salesian community in Chiang Mai consists of five men who
together , under the leadership of Fr Bancha, are
responsible for two presences and four different works.
They run a Catechists Centre at Mae Rim (a two year
course, currently with 30 catechists), the Don Bosco
Centre, a hostel for young men from the hills (there are
68 of them at the moment), a junior aspirantate, again
drawing from the various hill tribes (there are some 15
boys there at the moment). They also have a 30 hectare
farm which helps sustain these activities.
Don Bosco Home is a youth training centre for teenage boys
from hill tribes and ethnic groups in norther Thailand
including Pagayor, Akha, Yao, Lahu, Hmong and local
groups, where they can continue their education in a
3-year career training program. By so doing, the teenagers
gain sufficient knowledge and competence to be able to
make a decent living, support themselves and their
families, and live their spirit-filled lives with dignity
in society. They are also guided to be ethical and moral
individuals.
The tribal peoples and youth are facing new socio-economic
challenges in the new urban environment. They are,
however, learning and creating new livelihood options and
developing their own organisations and networks to solve
the problems they face. This creates a social and
political space for better living in the city.
Because it is so close to Myanmar, Chiang Mai is
also a place where many people come, fleeing difficulties
over the border. Chiang Mai is also a mecca for tourists.
Add these factors, plus the local 'Red Shirt' reputation
of the Thai countryside, and one does not have to have
struggle too hard to see that it could be a volatile
context. Perhaps this is where Chiang Mai's 'spiritual'
reputation, though, plays its part, and where the Church
and the Salesians stand out as an example of calm,
practical spirituality .
