Rector Major has appointed Fr John Bosco Thepharat Pitisant

By Our Own Correspondent

Rome, 23 December 2016 -- After the consultation conducted in Thailand and Cambodia last November 4-9 and the discernment process in the winter plenary session the Rector Major with the consent of his council has appointed Fr John Bosco Thepharat Pitisant as the 16th provincial of the THA province of St. Paul for the period of 6 years (2017-2023).

Fr Thepharat was born in Bangkok,Thailand on November 6, 1951 and made his first profession in Canlubang, Philippines on May 1, 1970 and the perpetual profession on March 23, 1978 in Hua Hin, Thailand. He was ordained in 1982 in Bangkok. After his priestly ordination he spent most of his Salesian life in education ministry, schools of Hua Hin, Banpong, Ban Saeng Arun and recently again in Hua Hin Vithayaulai School as Rector and Parish priest of St. Theresa of Infant Jesus Parish. He speaks Thai and English and holds degrees in Education, Philosophy, Theology and Science. During the six year period 2005-2011 he was already entrusted with the service of authority as THA provincial.

The vast and multicultural Province of THA (Thailand – Cambodia - Laos) was canonically established on December 2, 1937, just 10 years after arrival of the first Salesian missionaries to Thailand in 1927. Cambodia presence was started in 1985 and the first humble work in Laos was open in 2004.

Presently, the Province has 94 confreres (14 Salesian Brothers, 70 Salesian Priests, 6 candidates to the priesthood and 5 novices) average age of the Salesians is 55 years. One Province composed of three countries has 14 Salesian communities in Thailand, 3 in Cambodia and 1 in Laos. Majority of the works aim at the education-evangelization of the young people in need. The Salesian Family is composed of 10 different groups: SDB, FMA, Salesian Cooperators, Past Pupils of DB and Mary Help of Christians, VDB, ADMA, SIHM (Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary), DQM (Daugthers of Queenship of Mary) and SQM (Sisters of Queenship of Mary).

There are confreres of 12 different nationalities striving for communion in diversity: 51 Thai, 17 Italian, 8 Filipino, 4 Vietnamese, 3 Indian, 3 Khmer and one confreres each from Belgium, Netherlands, Nigeria, Madagascar and Colombia. At present there are 50 High School Aspirants, 2 prenovices, 5 novices, 3 post-novices, 4 practical trainees and 5 students of theology. Cambodia delegation (2014) offers very favorable conditions for large number of missionary volunteers coming from Europe, America and East Asia.

The installation of the next THA Provincial is scheduled for February 2, 2017.

Related story: AustraLasia 4191 (II) Discerning the future - Thailand

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