By THA SC

Bangkok, Thailand, 4 December 2023 -- Fr. Patrick Maccioni, Fr. Philip Somchai Kitnichi, and Fr. Anthony Restelli celebrated their 50th year as a priest on 2 December 2023 at St. John Bosco Church - Bangkok in the midst of the Salesian confreres, members of the Salesian Family, diocesan priests, religious groups and faithful, closely numbering 900 people in all.

Bishop Joseph Prathan Sridarunsil, SDB, presided over the Mass while Fr. Boonlert Paneetatthayasai, Provincial Superior of the THA Province, priest-confreres, concelebrated.

In his homily, Bishop Prathan highlighted two ideas: the feast of a Salesian priest and the golden jubilee celebration. He explained that being a Salesian priest, one follows the 'project of life of Don Bosco, which is the "Da Mihi Animas, Caetera Tolle." For the Salesian, a son of Don Bosco, this motto should also be his own because he is called to be part of Don Bosco's mission for the young. Aside from this, in working with the young, one should have 'Pastoral Charity', which is the same as the love of a shepherd.

At the same time, this golden jubilee celebration invites us all, especially the priests, to announce the jubilee year of the Lord. This is the time to free people from sin, to help them to do good, and to have compassion, especially for the destitute, those who are suffering, poor and abandoned youth.

At the conclusion of the Mass, Fr. Boonlert Paneetatthayasai expressed his thanks to the three confreres before presenting them with the Apostolic Blessing from the Vatican. He also gifted them with a chalice as a memorial.

After Mass, the celebration continued with lunch and stage presentations from the students of the Salesian schools.

We thank God for the blessing of the Salesian vocation and the missionary vocation of these confreres. Let us pray to God to inspire the young to bravely respond to God's call so that they can help the souls of the poor and abandoned youth.

A brief biography

Fr. Patrick Maccioni SDB

• Date of Birth: 12 March 1945, in OVODDA – NUORO, Italy; he is the youngest of 9 siblings
• First Profession: 20 October 1964
• Perpetual Profession: 13 March 1970
• Priesthood: 19 April 1973 at Jerusalem

He entered the seminary at Ivrea from 1958-1963. From there, he became a missionary to Thailand. He entered the novitiate in 1963. He studied philosophy in Hong Kong from 1964 to 1967. He studied theology in Cremisan, Israel, from 1969 to 1973. He was ordained to the priesthood in Jerusalem.

After ordination to the priesthood, he was assigned in Thailand as parish priest and as rector of the Salesian community. For three times, expanding a period of 15 years, he was appointed as novice master. At present, he is the rector of Don Bosco Vocational Training Center - Vientiane, Laos. This is the newest Salesian presence of the THA Province, whose canonical erection was on 17 January 2019.

Fr. Philip Somchai Kitnichi SDB

• Date of Birth: 10 July 1941, in Bangkok; he is the youngest of 12 siblings
• First Profession: 25 March 1963
• Perpetual Profession: 22 March 1969
• Priesthood: 19 April 1973 at Jerusalem

After he finished his fourth grade, he decided to enter the Salesian aspirantate in Hua Hin upon the invitation of Fr. John Casetta [1955-1962]. He also made his novitiate in Hua Hin from 1962 to 1963. He studied philosophy in Hong Kong from 1963-1966. He continued his studies in theology in Cremisan, Israel from 1969 to 1973, and was ordained priest in Jerusalem.

After his ordination to the priesthood, he worked in the Salesian schools and in many churches in Surat Thani Diocese. He was the Provincial Superior of THA from 1998-2004. At present, he is the parish priest of St. Joseph the Worker Church in Mae Rim, Chiangmai.

Fr. Anthony Restelli SDB

• Date of Birth: 4 January 1938, in TURATE – COMO, Italy; he is the eldest of 4 siblings
• First Profession: 20 October 1964
• Perpetual Profession: 4 October 1970
• Priesthood: 11 April 1974 at Jerusalem

His vocation started when he was about 20 years old. On 26 December 1958, while attending the Mass on the feast of St. Stephen, he felt the call to be a missionary. After the Mass, he went to see the parish priest and told him about what he felt. The priest was so happy and told him that this was a call from God, who inspired him to be a missionary. It might have been a coincidence that there was also a Salesian missionary from Palestine who joined in the Mass that day. The young man, Anthony, was introduced to that missionary. After hearing his story, the missionary introduced him to the Salesian Cardinal Cagliero House in Ivrea. He agreed to enter the seminary in Ivrea from 1958-1963. He came to Thailand as a missionary in 1963 and joined the novitiate in the same year. He studied philosophy in Hong Kong from 1964 to 1968 and theology in Cremisan, Israel, from 1970 to 1974.

After his ordination to the priesthood, he served as a rector and as a bursar in many Salesian settings. At present, he is the rector of Saeng Thong Vitthaya School, Hat Yai.

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