austraLasia

SIHM with the RM, Fr. Angel at Valdocco

By Sr. Maliwan Paramathawirote, SIHM
Superior General

Bangkok, Thailand, November 23, 2015 -SIHM (Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) Congregation, present in Thailand and Cambodia give thanks for the variety of gifts and events experienced during the DB 200 Jubilee Year.

The most meaningful events of the SIHM during the DB200 Year of Grace was the pilgrimage of 22 sisters and 10 lay mission partners to Valdocco, Colle Don Bosco and some significant places of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello. But the most happy moment of this pilgrimage was a personal encounter with the Rector Major, Fr. Ángel Fernandez Artime, at Valdocco

Moreover the most meaningful of home events for the SIHM Sister was the DB200 Salesian family celebrations in Thailand. For the first time in history we were able to gather all Salesian Family Catholic students for the joint activities, to know better Don Bosco (August 13-15 at Sarasit in Banpong and at Don Bosco Church in Bangkok).

At present:

SIHM Congregation has 11 religious communities (Thailand dioceses: 4 in Ratchaburi, 1 in Bangkok and 6 in Surat Thani diocese) and 32 presences (30 in Thailand and 2 in Cambodia-Battambang).

Majority of SIHM sisters work in the parishes, youth ministry and youth outreach, family ministry, social work or Basic Christian communities or schools (9 own SIHM schools and other schools of the dioceses).

There are 3 SIHM formation houses: (1) Narivitaya School, Ratchaburi for the 21 high school pre-aspirants; (2) Novitiate, at Sampran, Nakorn Pathom for 2 novices, 2 postulants and 7 senior aspirants and (3) General House, Hua-Hin, for the 12 secondary school pre-aspirants who are studying in Hua-Hin Withayalai School.

At present there are 93 SIHM sisters: 86 perpetually professed and 7 junior sisters, two novices (one is Thai and one is Cambodian), two postulants (one is Thai, one is Cambodian), seven aspirants (one from Cambodian, 6 Thai), 12 senior hight school pre-aspirants and 21 junior high school pre-aspirants.

SIHM main mission focus is to respond to the needs of local Church: cooperation in various activities of the parishes and the dioceses especially in pastoral work, housekeeping care, education in schools , catechism and charitable activities by giving particular attention to the spiritual and human needs of the people.

Sisters care also about the spiritual and human formation of their lay mission partners (Budhist, Muslim and Catholics), especially about the self-esteem of the youngsters and house staff.

SIHM sisters are working closely with all major groups of the Salesian Family (SDB, FMA, DQM, SQM and Salesian Cooperators), also sending their Sisters to Italy (FMA formation in Rome, Ersilia Canta community).

Special Greetings for all East Asia – Oceania Salesian Family group members! Although we are living and working in different places and different charism but we feel that we are one in the same spiritual and apostolic Family. We are very proud of being the members in the Salesian Family of Don Bosco!