Bangkok (Thailand) On May 24, 2020, the day of the Feast of Mary Help of Christians, the FMA Auxilium Community of Sala Daeng, Bangkok, belonging to the Province of St. Mary Mazzarello (THA), celebrated the 60th anniversary of the opening of the Hostel, which took place on 24 May 1960 at the request of Bishop Msgr. Luigi Chorin, to give Catholic students residing outside Bangkok “a safe and religious haven“, as reported in the Chronicle of the house of that day.
To encourage the Work, the Provincial of that time, Sister Teresa Merlo, transferred the provincial seat from Ban Pong to Bangkok, together with the members of the first community: Sister Esterina Prando, Sister Nadia Ferro, Sister Margherita Meroni, and Sister Graziella Amati, all in Heaven now except the first Animator, Sister Esterina Prando, who has reached 98 years of age.
The Auxilium Community prepared for the event by living the Novena to Mary Help of Christians with daily practices, with fervor in prayer, and by sharing edifying facts and graces received through Mary’s intercession.
The restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic did not allow organizing an appropriate celebration with the participation of the Past Pupils. However the Community, with the collaborators and the Salesian of Don Bosco, Fr. Carlo Velardo, gathered around the Provincial, Sister Nipha Rangabpit, for a brief historical commemoration.
At the center of the commemoration was the intervention of Mary Help of Christians and the dedication of the pioneering FMA, represented by Sister Esterina, to whom the Provincial gave a garland as a sign of gratitude, followed by gifts offered by a representative of the Residents. The moment ended with the song “O Qual Sorte”. The Provincial, thanking for the commemoration, commented: “You have shown that you appreciate the past which will thus guarantee the future”.
