The SVD has celebrated 25 years of presence in Thailand – a mission which began with just two SVD brothers responding to the need of the people and which has grown to include 12 confreres working in HIV/AIDS care, parish ministry, education and more.
The Silver Jubilee celebrations incorporated the Feast of St Michael the Archangel, the patron saint of the parish in Nong Bua Lamphu, as well as the opening of the 150th anniversary year of the Society of the Divine Word.
One of the two original SVD brothers in Thailand, Br Damien Lunders SVD, remains in ministry in Nong Bua Lamphu and took part in the celebrations.
“It was a memorable day, helping to bring back many good memories of our beginnings,” Br Damien said.
Br Damien, who was born and raised in the United States, joined the SVD in Techny, Illinois and spent many years as a missionary in Papua New Guinea.
A chance conversation with Br James Wilkins alerted Br Damien to the need for volunteers to work in Thailand at an AIDS hospice and after an initial visit to a centre in Bangkok, the Bishop of Udon Thani Diocese, Bishop George Phimphisan CSsR, invited the SVD to come to his Diocese.
Following some negotiation with SVD superiors and the Diocese, Br Damien and Br James were given the green light to go to Thailand in 1999. They spent a year learning the difficult Thai language in Bangkok before travelling to Udon Thani where the Bishop assigned them to work at Mother of Perpetual Help Center in Nong Bua Lamphu.
“At that time the Center was merely a rented house where people with AIDS could come for counselling,” Br Damien says. “The first two years were spent primarily visiting people with AIDS and realising the real needs of the Center.
“We started on a small scale, giving aid to needy children of HIV families, forming HIV groups throughout the province and keeping in regular contact with the people in these groups.”
They developed AIDS education and awareness programs for young people in schools. Now each year, the Centre concentrates on delivering these programs in one District, with up to 25 schools taking part.
The team at the Mother of Perpetual Help Center also worked with the local community to initiate self-help development programs such as the very successful cattle project and another to provide food and milk support to babies and young needy children, as well as school supplies and education support to 400 children of HIV families, some of whom are HIV positive themselves.
In addition, the Ban Mae Marie Home for Teenagers which began as a home to care for orphans of AIDs, has now been opened up for care of non-HIV-related teenagers and the elderly.
Over the years, the Divine Word Ministries have responded to invitations to take up parish ministry in the Diocese of Udon Thani, not only at St Michael the Archangel Church in Nong Bua Lamphu but in various parishes, often remote parishes, throughout the Diocese. Many of them are in parishes which have required some building up. Being situated in a predominantly Buddhist country, this parish ministry has also given rise to many practical expressions of interreligious dialogue and understanding.
Other SVD ministries in Thailand include English language ministry, which has been present from the start, and ministry with Vietnamese migrant communities in the capital, Bangkok.
Br Damien said the anniversary started with the celebration of Mass with more than 30 priests concelebrating from the local diocese. The Mass was officiated by the Diocesan Vicar-General Fr Patana and Provincial of the SVD Australia Province, Fr Asaeli Rass SVD.
SVD confreres from Thailand and Myanmar were present as were many parishioners, not only from Nong Bua Lamphu, but from all parts of the Diocese. Following Mass, everyone gathered for a shared meal.
“Leading up to the celebrations, much hard work had been done by the parish priest Fr Ha and his catechist, along with the help of the staff of the Mother of Perpetual Help Center, Mother Mary House and residents from both places, all of which helped make the day a big success,” Br Damien said.
The staff from the Center also presented Br Damien with a painted portrait of himself painted by an art student in Udon Thani.
Br Damien said the anniversary celebration was an opportunity to give thanks for all God has done through the SVD in Thailand.
“As I look back to the beginnings of the SVD presence in Thailand, I see that ‘we started with nothing but a hope and a prayer’ and 25 years later we can say that much has been accomplished for the Church in the Diocese of Udon Thani,” he said.
“This includes establishing the first Catholic Church in the Province of Nong Bua Lamphu, the Mother of Perpetual Help Center, Mother Mary House, all of which give much-needed help and support to those suffering with AIDS, and the poor in the province.
“We are thankful for the support from so many who have made this possible and continue to make it prosper.”
Provincial, Fr Rass, said he found the anniversary celebrations inspiring.
“I felt good about the celebrations, but most importantly, I was impressed by the way the confreres have worked for 25 years with the people of Thailand,” he said.
“Whenever I’m in Thailand I’m absolutely inspired by how the confreres have learnt the language and the culture there.
“I was very moved by the participation of the people in the celebrations, especially the youth who are carrying the HIV virus who wanted to show their appreciation to the SVD and particularly to the brothers. They showed deep appreciation for their work.
“It is absolutely amazing how the pioneers’ efforts in terms of providing care for people in the community with HIV-AIDS, education and pastoral care has thrived and grown over those 25 years, and their commitment to the people and their creativity in pastoral care.
“For me, it is a good example of how important it is to adapt to the evolving needs of the people. It was a wonderful celebration and I came home feeling really happy to be a missionary.”
PHOTOS
TOP RIGHT: Provincial, Fr Asaeli Rass SVD speaking during the 25th Anniversary Mass, which also incorporated the opening of the SVD's 150th Jubilee Year.
MIDDLE LEFT: Br Damien Lunders SVD is presented with a portrait of himself painted by a local person in honour of Br Damien's founding role in the SVD Thailand Mission and his ongoing commitment to the people.
MIDDLE RIGHT: Br Ron Fratzke SVD, who is also a long-serving member of the SVD Thailand Mission with Fr Rass and Br Damien.
BOTTOM LEFT: Br Damien and a group of parishioners who attended the anniversary celebrations with some of the more recently arrived members of the SVD in Thailand, Fr Rajasekhar Reddy Bobba SVD and Fr Truong Le SVD (back left).