By Fr. Theparat Pitisant, SDB

Bangkok, Thailand, 11 August 2017 -- At 91 years of age, 61 years a priest and missionary in Thailand passed away Fr Alberto L. Gustav Roosens, a Belgian Salesian missionary par excellence. About half of his missionary life in Thailand he has lived in the southern regions of Thailand, remarkable especially those years spent in the 3 most southern provinces of Thailand Pattani, Narathivat and Yala with a majority of Muslim population.

Fr. Roosens spent last few years of his life in the Provincial house community in Bangkok, still busy with as before with the correspondence to his thousands of benefactors and looking for his 'last dream' - the hostel for the young people coming to the capital from the provinces.

Born n 1926 in Belgium, Mechelen - Brussel diocese, made his first profession as Salesians in 1947. Before his missionary send off for Thailand he was well prepared with the diploma as a medical nurse and teachers degree as well his BA in education and economics. His theology in Bollengo (Italy) and Melchet Court (UK) was his first international experience.

As missionary to Thai Province of St. Paul Fr. Gustav was assigned as provincial secretary and economer, as in charge of the Hostel in Bangkok, economer and rector of Don Bosco Bangkok. Before the long 30 years in the Southern Thailand he was active in many Salesian schools also as Delegate for the Don Bosco Past Pupils of Thailand.

In order to start of support many new projects in Don Bosco schools Fr. Roosens kept correspondence with thousands of Past Pupils and Benefactors in Thailand and abroad. Twice (1995 and 1998) he was asked by the Princess Sirindhorn to pass the night in the Royal Palce and celebrate in the morning the Mass for the Belgian Queen Fabiola on her visit in Thailand.

His outgoing personality and capability to relate and communicate well in many languages (FRENCH - DUTCH -ITALIAN -ENGLISH -THAI -GERMAN). In 2013 he was awarded with the Papal Honor 'Pro Ecclesia and Pontefice'.

We give thanks to God for the Salesian missionary par excellence who transformed the life of many young people in Thailand and we pray for his eternal rest in the Salesian garden. The funeral of Fr. Roosens is scheduled for Wednesday August 16 in the Salesian Parish in Banpong.

TASKS ASSIGNED

YEAR	HOUSE	TASKS ASSIGNED
18-12-1956		ARRIVED AS MISSIONARY IN THAILAND
1956	HUA HIN (3 MONTHS)	LEARN THE THAI LANGUAGE
1957-1958	SALADAENG - BANGKOK	PROVINCIAL SECRETARY  - IN CHARGE OF THE HOSTEL
1959-1964	DON BOSCO - BANGKOK	ECONOMER -PROVINCIAL SECRETARY, PRINTING PRESS
1964-1968	UDORNTHANI	ECONOMER
1968-1972	DON BOSCO – BANGKOK	ECONOMER
1972-1975	DON BOSCO – BANGKOK	RECTOR  - ECOMOMER
1975-1978	SAINT DOMINIC	PROFESSOR -IN CHARGE OF THE PAST PUPILS OF THAILAND
1978-1981	NONTHABURI	STARTED THE WORK AND IN CHARGE
1981-1989	SURATTHANI	PARISH PRIEST – ECOMOMER DIOCESE – ECONOMER HOUSE
1989-2009	YALA-PATTHANI-NARATHIVATH	PARISH PRIEST
2009-2017	PROVINCIAL HOUSE	SENIOR CONFRERE

Related article:

• austraLasia #2058 Gustav Roosen's last dream (February 2008)

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