HUA HIN: 25th April 2005 --  Following their 9th General Chapter, the Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Salesian Family group founded in 1937 by Bishop Pasotti in Thailand, today opened a follow-up session at Hua Hin.  The meeting will conclude 27th April.

    The SIHM Sisters envision themselves as zealous missionaries dedicated to the service of the local Church.  There are 96 of them working in 3 dioceses of Thailand and one in Cambodia.  They have four schools of their own as well as six schools administered on behalf of a diocese.

    The charism of the SIHM is one of service, especially to local church, based especially on the Word of God lived in the spirit of Don Bosco.  They are constantly immersed in dialogue with people of different cultures and religions, and they strive to enculturate their charism of service in this context.

    Over the years, with the constant presence of one FMA and spiritual input and support regularly from the Salesian Bishops in Thailand, as well as from other Salesians, the SIHM Sisters have jealously maintained and developed their Salesian spirit and are regarded as a strong force in terms of Salesian Family relationships.  Their Constitutions contain a recommendation to foster the Salesian Cooperators.

    In the Hua Hin follow-up meeting the Sisters will look at their draft pastoral plan from 2005-9, and the range of initiatives and activities to implement this plan, including formation, furthering the missionary zeal of the Sisters, evangelisation especially in the school context, and then non-school contexts.  They are interested in developing their approach to Social Communications within their 'secretariate' commission, as well as ensuring their active part in the Salesian Family.