Melbourne, Australia -- On Saturday 1 December Matthew Kitichai (Jack) Saisawang was ordained to the Diaconate by Archbishop Tim Costelloe sdb, Archbishop of Perth, Australia, at St Joseph’s Church, Collingwood in Melbourne, Australia.
Deacon Jack is a member of the Thai Province and currently a member of the International Studentate community at Don Bosco House, Clifton Hill undertaking his Theological studies in Melbourne.
It was a wonderful, joyous Salesian celebration with many young people present, fantastic music led by Br Nattawut Kitsawad sdb (also from the Thai Province) and the Salesian choir, and an inspiring homily from Archbishop Tim weaving together the theme of ‘Service’ from the Advent Season and the Novena of the Feast of the Immaculate Mary, followed by a fabulous festive meal.
Present at the celebration from Thailand were the Provincial of the Thai Province, Fr Dhepharat Pitisan sdb as well as Deacon Jack’s mother Juliana Phaimanee Saisawang and his noviciate companion Brother Sarapan Kaesar sdb.
In addition to the many friends and Salesian Family members a wonderful feature of the celebration was the presence of 65 SYM Leaders who were in Melbourne for their annual Leaders Camp.
This ordination brought the number of Deacons in the Clifton Hill community to five – Thai Province (2), Timor-Leste Province (2) and China Province (1), but only for a very short time as three return to their home provinces in the coming days, having completed their studies in Melbourne – Dc Anusit Chanphen (THA), Dc Abilio Guterres (TLS) and Dc Lourenco Soares (TLS).
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