'austraLasia' #53

THAI PROVINCIAL DAY - A LUCKY FRIDAY 13

Banchong Santisukniran

HAAD YAI (Thailand): Friday 13 February 1998 was a day to be put into

the history of the Thai Province. It was not a bad luck day as many

think. It was not only the annual Provincial Feast Day but the day Thai

confreres said "thank you" for Fr. Joseph Prathan Sidarunsil, the ex

provincial and "welcome" to Fr. Philip Somchai Kitnichi, the new

provincial.

Even though Haad Yai is far away in the south of Thailand, nearly all

the confreres, clerics and aspirants went there for the occasion. The

Feast day began with the concelebration presided over by the ex

provincial with choirs accompanied by musical instruments of the school

band. After the Communion, Fr. Joseph Banchong Santisukniran, the vice

provincial read the letter of the Rector Major, nominating Fr. Philip

Somchai Kitnichi as provincial. Then the new provincial read the act of

commitment, signed the papers and received the fraternal embraces.

After the mass there was the gathering, during which speeches were read

and dances performed. Then followed the fraternal meal.

The next day, very early in the morning, all the participants headed to

Penang for the pilgrimage to the famous St. Ann's shrine. There mass

was concelebrated presided over by Mgr. Michael Praphon Chaicharoen, the

Salesian bishop. The rest of the day was spent in sight seeing and

visits.

After the feast day come ordinary days. So also with the new

provincial, after the feast he comes to the provincial office and begins

to serve.