By THA SC

Banpong, Thailand, 3 October 2023 -- On 18 September 2023, at 09.30 hrs, Bishop Silvio Siripong Charatsri presided at the Holy Mass of the funeral service of Bro. Paul Chun Chanhom, a Salesian brother, at St Joseph Church, Banpong, Ratchaburi. Fr. Boonlert Paneetatthayasai, the Provincial of Thailand, concelebrated with many other Salesian confreres and diocesan clergy. Members of the Salesian Family, teachers and students from Salesian institutions, and parishioners came to join the funeral.

Bro. Paul Chun Chanhom died in Bangkok, Thailand, on 14 September 2023. He was the most senior of the Salesian confreres in the Thai province. He went to the Father's house at the age of 94 years.

He was born in 1929 in Kokmodtanoy - Ratchaburi, Thailand, made his first profession in 25 March 1956 in Hua Hin -Thailand, and made his perpetual profession in 25 March 1962. He offered to God 67 years of Salesian consecrated life.

After his first profession, Bro. Chun was assigned to Hua Hin until 1967. That same year, he was transferred to St. Dominic School, Bangkok. From there, he traveled to Madras, India to study for two years. When he came back, Bro. Chun was assigned to Don Bosco School, Bangkok, until his last breath. Before his demise, he was confined at St. Louis Hospital and was bedridden for ten months due to kidney complications.

Brother was a kind and pleasant person, loved by everyone. He was a faithful and responsible religious, exemplary in the practices of piety. He had the gift of healing. When people would come to receive healing, he would invite them to pray with him to plea for blessing and healing from God and Mother Mary. Another characteristic that stood out in his life was his love for the poor, especially the destitute youth who lacked opportunities. He would not fail to give assistance to them.

A past pupil of Don Bosco Technological College related that when he was a young student of the institute, during the break after lunch, he used to play football together with friends. That day their ball hit the glass window of the Printing Section. The loud sound was heard all over, but everyone kept quiet. Then the bell rang, but he felt he was trembling, with tears running down his face. A certain moment, a voice came from behind that said, 'Never mind'; 'go to study, I [Bro. Chun] will fix this'. This incident of Bro. Chun's kindness and compassion remained imprinted in his memory.

We give thanks to God for his life-long witness of a committed Salesian life and pray for his eternal peace in the Salesian garden!

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