Inspiration by the Seminar on Initial proclamation of Jesus

By Fr. John Tamayo, SDB

Hua Hin, Thailand, 23 August 2017 -- After our seminar on Initial Proclamation in Sampran, Bangkok, I got inspired by the sharing of the Salesian Missionaries working in EAO and South Asia Regions. Upon returning to my parish in Hua Hin, I tried to put into practice what we have learned. I looked for the poor families living within the parish vicinity.

This is my first visit to this family whose son is handicapped since birth. The father collects garbage leftovers and resells them to support his family of three. Listening to their story, they had been moving from place to place depending on the generosity of the owner of the land.

I told them that I will visit them again and try to find a way how to help his handicapped son of 35 years. Hopefully, I can find benefactors to give a hand for this family. I will try to visit them once a week to give this family a moral support and friendship.

I am very thankful for the Seminar on Initial Proclamation that gave me clear motivations in doing the Parish Ministry. I had just been new in the Parish for 3 months. Formerly, the Rector of the Salesian School was also the Parish Priest. Now, the Parish has its own Pastor full time.

In the first two months, I made a survey of the people going to church by asking them to give their name, address and telephone number. We are a community of 430 parishioners. I am now trying to group them into communities that we can form small christian communities (BEC) according to the Plenary Council of the Catholic Church in Thailand (AD 2015).

Right now, we are forming the Lay People to have more participation in the life of the Church. New groups are coming up such as the Legion of Mary, Vincent de Paul Society, Family Group,Youth Group and the Parish Pastoral Council.

As asked by Pope Francis, I am trying to know my sheep, accompany them and ready for any service we can offer to lead the flock to Jesus. St. Luke gives me the right direction for the signs of the Kingdom of God. "The poor have the Gospel preached to them. The Lord hears the cry of the Poor". Trusting in the Lord’s grace, we can make our Parish a real Community of Life and Love that witnesses to God’s Love for His people.

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