austraLasia #1843

New presence amongst Thai tribes receives boost from first Salesian Perpetual Profession of tribal member

BANGKOK: May 13th 2007 -- Kunyaum, Maehongson is at least 1,000 km north of Bangkok, deep in the mountainous regions of Northern Thailand, but it was there, on 1st May, that a Karen tribesman, Brother David Vichienseang Kontrakoondee, made his perpetual profession as a Salesian, the first such tribal member to do so.  Some 500 or more Catholics from the area participated in the event, which highlighted in an important way some of the new thrust of the Thai province mission.  Within the last 12 months the Salesians have opened a hostel in Chiangmai, where large numbers of tribal people from the mountains are located.  The hostel caters for around 40 tribal youths from different tribes and offers them free lodging and technical education.  By next year the number is expected to rise to 60.  Of the 20 or so northern tribes, at least 9 of them are represented in the hostel.  Before year's end the Salesians will also be opening an aspirantate at senior school level for those youngsters at the hostel who are interested in the possibility of Salesian life.
    Several days later, at Sampran, on 5th May to be precise, Brother Anthony Anusit Chanpen made his first profession as a Salesian.  Fr Dheparat, provincial, made the point that Brother Anthony was a survivor of the four who started out in the novitiate, 'Die Hard no. 4'!  Brother Anthony comes from Banpong, Ratchaburi.
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