From the auto-biography of Br. Kramar (1919-2007), 'A Brother to Asians'

By Our Own Correspondent

Mandalay, Myanmar, 7 January 2018 -- For the MYM Viceprovince is now a special time of collecting first preliminary materials for the possible cause of Beatification of Fr. Fortunato Giacomin (1920-2000).

One of the most mobile missionaries, Slovanian Salesian Brother Jozef Kramar (1919-2007) offers in his Auto-Biograpy 'A Brother To Asians' [Ed. Don Bosco Press, Inc - Manila, 2001, 64 pages] a moving testimony of strong faith, dynamic fraternal life during his stay in Mandalay community (Burma - Myanmar) before he was expelled in 1966. That time Fr. Giacomin was his Rector and Br. Kramar was in charge of the Furniture Department in Don Bosco Technical School.

'But what was bothering us for a long time, was a badly needed boarding house for about 200 boarders.

On a bright morning, during my lesson of drafting, the Rector entered our classroom, he listened for some time to my lesson, and then he approached me and asked me 'Why don't you make the plan for the boarding house?' - "Father, I'm not an architect," was my simple answer.... He smiled and said, "Yout can always go bit out of your way!" At the end of the month, with the cooperation of my students, the plan was drawn and presented to him...

But each contractor was asking over 300.000 kyats and we had only 100.000 kyats available. When I informed the Rector, he looked at me as usually did and then he asked me "Why don't you do it?" I was quite excited and said to him, "Father, you know that I'm not a contractor, I can't do it! I'm only a furniture makes, you know that..." With his calmness and kindness, he interrupted, "Yes! Brother, I know that, and I also know, that you are not an architect, and yet, you have make the plans for this wonderful building".

"Yes, Father, I said, "I have made the plans because you ordered me." - "So, then... I order you." He smiled and put his hand on my shoulder as he said, "Go ahead, and God will bless your work!" And God did bless our work and did help us out.... On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in 1962, there was the blessing of the corner corner stone and the next year on the same feast, there was blessing of the completed four story boarder's building to the happiness and joy of all..."

The Chronicle of the Don Bosco Technical school points: "In 1957, Fr. Fortunato Giacomin, who succeeds Fr. Balocco, continues the expansion programme: in 1958, he builds 400 feet, two-storey building of the school for day scholars and in 1962-63 a new spacious four‑storey ferroconcrete building. Thus undoubtedly the Salesians come to have the best school in Mandalay, merely for its buildings, but especially for the excellent results and discipline. During Fr. Giacomin's rectorate the number of pupils increased from 1200 to about 1800."

Br. Jozef Kramar, originally from Slovenia, was a missionary in India, Burma, Philippines (Don Bosco Boys Town-Cebu and Tondo-Manila) and Papua New Guinea (Araimiri, Vunabosco, Kumgi and East Boroko). He passed away in Ljubljana in 2007.

We pray, that many Salesians and Friends of Don Bosco will provide their personal testimonials about the life of Fr. Giacomin. We pray for the health of Fr. Joachim Ye Maung who is in charge to collect the first preliminary Dossier about this excellent Salesians.

Related materials:

• Australasia 4503 (II) Appeal for the testimonials - Fr. Fortunato Giacomin
• Australasia 4447 (II) A great role model for the Salesians in Burma

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