Sam Phran, Thailand, 3 August 2019 -- In the Province of St. Mary Mazzarello of Thailand this year the feast of 5 August was brought forward to 3 August. Our Sister Jubilarians gathered at Sam Phran, Ban Than Phraphon. We celebrated the 25th anniversary of Religious Profession of Sr. Somchan Agata Lab and Sr. Wirinthip Rosa Inyaem, the 50th anniversary of Sister Thippawan Teresa Pharksuwan - who will celebrate it in Cambodia where she has been a missionary for seven years - and the 60th anniversary of Sr. Margarita Perez, a Colombian missionary, who will also celebrate it with her companions in her homeland on 5 August.
The Salesian Bishop of Surat Thani, Bishop Joseph Prathan Sridarunsil, presided over the service and concelebrated with the Salesian Provincial, Fr Thepharat Pitisant, along with about thirty priests. The place was packed to overflowing with Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, religious of other congregations, faithful, relatives, young people, past pupils, teachers and Salesians and Salesian Cooperators.
In his homily, Bishop Prathan, referring to the first reading of Ezekiel, said that a vocation is God's initiative, it is up to us to respond as did Joseph, Moses, the Prophets, Paul. He also emphasized that with the call the Lord entrusts a mission to be carried out and for the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians the mission is two-fold - to be educators of young people to make them good believers and upright citizens, and to be a living monument of Mary Help of Christians to spread her devotion everywhere.
The symbol of a beautiful flowering plant brought to the altar by the jubilarians during the entrance procession is significant, a sign of gratitude to the Lord for the work he has accomplished in their lives during the 25 years of Consecrated Life. Also significant was the gift of the Provincial, Sister Nipha Rangabpit of a jar full of seeds to continue the mission of making them grow and develop where the Lord will put them "Where and how you want", according to the words of the final hymn, very well-performed by the choir of young people (who are looking at the possibility of a religious vocation) and young blind people.
The brief but heartfelt words of gratitude to the Lord and to all the people who helped to organize the feast of the two celebrated and the fraternal agape concluded the touching function.
We hope and pray that some of the many young women present may let themselves be touched by the Lord's call to follow him.
5255(III)_Korean Missionary in Sydney, Australia
