During the 68 days, the Extraordinary Visitor, the Councillor for the East Asia-Oceania region, namely Fr Václav Klement, SDB, met all present Salesians and contacted another 10 currently in formation or doing further studies abroad.
Fr Klement shared the GC28 questions with the confreres in each local community: “What kind of Salesians for the Youth of Thailand - Cambodia - Laos?” as well as the future of our mission - consecration - community life. Indeed the task of reshaping our Salesian presences emerged as one important vision.
Also, most of the 1,700 teachers or full-time staff in our education works, parishes, boarding houses and oratories had the opportunity to share their vision and suggestions.
“There is a very broad field of mission and many human resources, especially in the almost 3,000 members of the ten groups of the Salesian Family in the 3 countries,” said Fr Klement.
More than 21,000 young people (only 1,000+ Catholics among them) attend the educational process each day in a variety of educational institutions in the three countries, involving academic schools, vocational training centres, technical schools, boarding houses (1,400+ boarding students). During the workshop-style sharing, Rectors and provincial councillors shared insights on their source of happiness, their comfort zones and how to strengthen the sense of belonging to one province that comprises three countries.
Prior to the closing celebration of the Extraordinary Visitation in Bangkok, on October 27, Fr. Klement also celebrated the closing of the visit to the Cambodia Delegation. Here, too, was a moment of fraternal sharing and reflection on a reality, civil and Salesian, in profound transformation and growth.
Then, in the Bangkok meeting, following a workshop methodology, the participants shared their insights on the reasons for their joy. It was agreed that the charismatic growth in the coming years should draw inspiration from the approaching centenary of the Salesian presence in Thailand ( 1927-2027).
The 100 Salesians of THA province are called to deepen these 3 main strategies towards the future:
- Strengthen the sense of belonging to one province in the three countries;
- Move outside their comfort zone towards more direct commitment for the marginalized young people;
- Foster more effective joint formation of SDBs with our Lay Mission Partners.
Source: AustraLasia
