62 Years of Missionary Life in Thailand and Cambodia

By THA SC

       Hua-Hin, Thailand, 8 December 2021 -- On 4 December 2021, the Salesian Province of Thailand joined with Fr. Valter Brigolin and Fr. Anthony Miele to celebrate with joy their 'golden jubilee of ordination to the priesthood'. Fr. Miele presided at the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at the Mary Help of Christians Chapel of the Retreat House in Huahin. Salesian confreres, members of the Salesian Family and a limited number of faithful joined in - limited due to the Covid - 19 protocols imposed by the health authorities.

       A brief biography

       FR. VALTER BRIGOLIN

• Date of Birth: 17 June 1934, in Viconovo, Venice, Italy; he is the eldest of 3 siblings
• First Profession: 25 March 1961
• Perpetual Profession: 25 March 1967
• Priesthood: 3 April 1971 at the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians, Turin, Italy

       Cleric Valter came to Bangkok, Thailand together with four others [including Fr. Antonio Miele] as a missionary on 24 November 1959. After ordination to the priesthood, he has worked in various salesian schools in Thailand for 19 years [1971-1990]. In 1991, he pioneered the salesian presence in Cambodia together with Bro. Roberto Panetto. He worked in Phnom Penh for 7 years, in Sihanoukville for 8 years and in Poipet for 3 years...18 years altogether [1991-2009]. At present, Fr. Valter is the spiritual guide and confessor to the aspirants and faithful in Huahin, Prachuabkhirikhan Province.

       In an interview with the Salesian Bulletin of Thailand, Fr. Valter shared about his joy of being a missionary. "My joy is being with the young; I have been assigned as the prefect of studies and assistant to the boarders of Sarasit Phithayalai School and Saeng Thong Vithaya School. By doing these duties, I could relate with the young, play sports with them. I like this kind of life. I used sports to come in contact with the young, educate them and lead them to improve their lives..."

       "On this celebration of 50 years of priesthood, I would like to thank God and Mother Mary who had given me this priestly and missionary vocation. I thank God for leading me to know the salesians. Had I not been a priest, possibly I might have lost my christian faith..."

       "I would like to thank the various persons involved in my life, especially the salesian confreres, the teachers, the benefactors and the young...they have helped build my priestly life through their good examples, their advice, which made me remain faithful up to this time."

       FR. ANTONIO MIELE

• Date of Birth: 3 December 1941, in Mirano, Venice, Italy;
• He is the eldest of 8 siblings; among them there are 3 priests.
• First Profession: 25 March 1961
• Perpetual Profession: 25 March 1967
• Priesthood: 3 April 1971, in Spinea, Venice

       All along these 50 years of priestly life, Fr. Anthony has worked in various schools of the Province [15 years], and in various churches of the Dioceses of Ratchaburi and Surat Thani [35 years].

       He shared that: "All the time during these past years, God and Mother Mary have been always with me to help me, especially during the times of various trials and difficulties. They have inspired me to do my duties well. I would like also to thank the various persons who supported me: first of all, my parents [my father passed away at 61 years of age, and my mother at 96 years of age]; I am sure that both of them had received their reward. I thank my brothers and sisters, especially the younger sister who looked after our parents in my stead. I also thank the kindness of all who helped me both materially and spiritually. May God reward them with His blessings...I will remember everyone in my daily Mass."

       At present, Fr. Anthony is the assistant parish priest taking care of the faithful in three border provinces of South Thailand - namely Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.

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