Lux Mundi and Salesianum in Sampran

By Fr Anthony Boonlert, SDB

Sampran, Thailand, 1 October 2018 -- For the past 40 years the Salesianum in Sampran has been the best (and only!) Salesian formation house in Thailand. There are three buildings - Rinaldi, Bosco and Savio in the large green compound, located very close to the only Catholic major seminary in Thailand (Lux Mundi - Saeng Tham College) with 190 students (lay, religious and diocesan seminarians) from all corners of Thailand and with some students from other nearby countries. Indeed, this coming December 8, our community will commemorate the 40th anniversary of the official opening of the Salesianum in 1978.

Our formation house is located in Sampran, the 'Vatican' of Thailand, with a large Catholic population and many other Religious Congregations (including FMA, SIHM, SQM Sisters and other male religious Congregations). Our pride is probably the only Salesian Family run festive Oratory with some 70-100 children and older youth coming every Sunday (10am-4 pm) with the help of animators and young religious in formation (Salesian Cooperators, Don Bosco Alumni, FMA aspirants, SIHM novices and SDB formands). Another apostolic activity is "Savio House" - a retreat house hosting many different events for Catholic associations and youth groups.

Recently our formation community (Rector, Fr Anthony Boonlert) with 4 formators (Fr Cais, Fr Ronnachai and Fr Suthep) become very much international and inter-cultural. Among the 6 postnovices, two novices and one prenovice, are two from Vietnam (through Laos), three from Cambodia and four from Thailand. Although the common language is Thai, our community speaks many different languages. We form one joyful and hard studying family involved also in many Provincial Youth Ministry events, like the vocation camp and SYM.

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