By Fr. Patrick Maccioni, SDB
Rector, Udonthani community

Vientiane, Laos, March 17, 2016 - We four Salesians in Vientiane, Laos are working in a small presence, in an almost unknown country and in a difficult environment. All this created in us the feeling of not being able to give a worthy welcome to the Rector Major.

So, in the preparation for the event we tried our best to explain to the government representatives working with us who the Rector Major was and why he was coming to visit us. We tried to do the same with our teachers and students, inviting them to collaborate with us to make this event become more relevant to them.

All have shown great interest and the collaboration has proved to be not only fruitful, but also highly educative.I think that the confreres, some teachers and some students were tired due to overwork during the preparation. But, the result was very satisfactory. The Don Bosco Community in Udonthani gave us a providential helping hand both in taking care of the kitchen and in installing the water system for the guest rooms where the Rector Major spent the night.

After the Rector Major's departure, I heard many teachers and students,and guests expressing their satisfaction and appreciation of the person of the Rector Major. In particular, they have been impressed by his fatherly kindness and social approach. I think that now they understand better Don Bosco's fatherly loving kindness.

Our task ahead is to follow up the positive results of the visit,so that both confreres,teachers and students will live and work together with more enthusiasm and self-sacrifice. May Our Blessed Mother and Don Bosco protect and inspire us, leading us to a brighter future in carrying out our Salesian mission for the needy Lao young people.

Please,continue to pray for us and don't forget to come to visit us in the future!

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