"What kind of Salesians for the Youth Today?"
By THA SC
Hua Hin, Thailand, 10 August 2022 -- From 1-4 August 2022, the Salesian Province of St. Paul comprising Thailand, Cambodia and The People's Republic of Laos, held the Provincial Chapter 2022 at the Salesian Retreat House, Huahin. 36 Salesians were present at this important meeting together with 12 lay observers. These lay observers came from the various lay movements in the Salesian Family, namely, the Salesian cooperators, representatives from the ADMA group, representatives from the teachers, representatives from the alumni and alumnae, and representatives from the young.
Fr. Banchong Santisukniran, the moderator of the Provincial Chapter, was the main celebrant at the Eucharistic celebration on 1 August 2022 to implore the light of the Holy Spirit in order to discern together the will of God. Then, Fr. Dheparat Pitisant, the Provincial, presented the report of the 'State of the Province' and the People's Republic of Laos. The report of the situation of the delegation of Cambodia was presented by Fr. Roel Soto, the head of the delegation of Cambodia.
The Provincial Chapter this time reflected and studied the documents of the 28th General Chapter to let this be applied in the pastoral context of the Province of Thailand, Cambodia and the People's Republic of Laos. The members of the Chapter joined together to find ways to apply the 28th General Chapter's 'road map' to the context of the Province.
The Provincial Chapter 2022 ended of 4 August 2022 with the final message from the Provincial. Aside from thanking all the people involved in the Chapter processes, he also encouraged the chapter members to be faithful to their vocation and to the Salesian charism. The Salesian vocation will be strong when the Salesians continue to dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to the young, listening to them with respect and attention, ready to open new horizons where the young can participate in the educative pastoral role of the Salesian.
