(Thailand). On 14 November 2021, with the Eucharistic celebration and other initiatives, the Educating Communities of the Province of St. Mary Mazzarello (THA) celebrated the 90th anniversary of the presence of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in Thailand.
The group of pioneer missionaries, Sr. Graziella Amati, Sr. Maria Baldo, Sr. Antonietta Morellato, Sr. Luigina Di Giorgio, and Sr. Giulia Lauton, arrived in Thailand on 14 November 1931. From Bombai, India, together with the Animator, Sr. Maria Avio, and they settled in Bang Nok Khwaek, in the province of Samut Songkhram, considered the first house in Thailand.
Throughout the day, the FMA of all the Communities of the Province, together with the members of the Groups of the Salesian Family, the Past Pupils, the young people, the collaborators of the various groups and associations, recalled with gratitude the numerous missionaries who spent their life in missionary work in Thailand.
The gratitude was expressed with the Eucharistic Celebration, followed by a moment of thanksgiving for the 8 missionary Sisters present today in Thailand: Sr. Anna Maria Mosele, Sr. Margarita Perez, Sr. Amedea Chini, Sr. Marianna Merlo, Sr. Adelaide Supertino, Sr. Anarosa Sivori, Sr. Anna Grassi, and Sr. Imelda Barattino.
Each community celebrated the anniversary with creativity and with different initiatives: from the pilgrimage to the ‘cradle of the mission’ in Bang Nok Khwaek, to the visit to the cemetery of the parish of St. Joseph of Ban Pong, where the remains of the deceased FMA rest, to the representations, memorials, and songs according to Thai culture. The Past Pupils and young people sent videos and images of good wishes through the Web.
The celebration of an anniversary is a reason for gratitude for the love and sacrifice with which the first FMA laid the foundations of the educational mission and encouragement for the Educating Communities to continue the work of evangelization with the spirit of Don Bosco and St. Mary Domenica Mazzarello.
Photo: Flickr THA
