By Mr. Dominic Pornsawath
Provincial Coordinator ASC, THAILAND-CAMBODIA province
Bangkok, Thailand, 7 October 2018 -- In few years time the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) will begin centenary celebrations of Don Bosco in our country (1927 - 2027). The history of the Salesian Cooperators in Thailand officially goes back to 1965. Since 2014 we have been preparing to publish our Golden Jubilee book and now the publication is almost ready (300+ pages with many photos).
Our ASC Province of Thailand-Cambodia (THA) is composed now of 14 local centres with 181 members with their Promise and another 35 Aspirants. Ordinarily our regular centre meetings involve almost 150 members and our average age is 52 years. One centre is in Cambodia (Phnom Penh) and the other 13 are in Thailand, among them the Bangkok Centre, founded in 1967. The most recent centre to open is the one attached to the FMA community in Phonesoong (FMA) and other most recent is being started in Hua Hin (SDB).
We are privileged to journey with many young people in the Salesian (SDB and FMA) schools, since a good number of our members are teachers, both young and senior. Our annual retreat is always a good occasion for our spiritual renewal but also for opening doors to interested possible members. Among our dreams is also to expand our apostolate more to youth in need - youth at risk (juvenile reformatory or prison), orphanage (Don Bosco Home Bangsak) or young workers.
Last, but not the least, before the publication deadline for our Golden Jubilee publication we are looking for photos from the following EAO regional events: 2nd EAO regional Congress (Philippines - Manila, 1996) and 4th EAO regional Congress (Philippines - Cebu, 2001) as well as some photos of the 1996 Congress ASC in Bologna (Fr. Juan E. Vecchi). If you have any photos of these events, please - send them tous! Thank you very much!