By THA SC

Bangkok, Thailand, 12 July 2020 -- On 11 July 2020, the Commission on Catechesis of the Salesian Family in Thailand organized a seminar on the theme "Laudato Si'" and "On Teaching Catechism" at the Provincial House, Krungthep Kritha. There were 50 participants, mostly catechists from the schools and institutes of the Salesian Family. Due to the still on-going Covid-19 pandemic, the number of participants was thus limited.

The reason behind the choice of the theme on "Laudato Si'" was that this year is the 5th year anniversary of its proclamation [2015-2020]. The 'Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development' announced that from 24 May 2020 to 24 May 2021 would be the special year of this encyclical.

The seminar was divided into two parts: in the morning, after the opening address by Fr Dheparat Pitisant, the Provincial, Bishop Joseph Prathan Sridarunsil, SDB, the invited resource person, led the Lectio Divina on the care of the creation of God. This was followed by his sharing and reflection on the significant matters of the encyclical. This enabled the participants to understand the contents of the encyclical and also practiced the ways of 'lectio divina' which could be applied with the students in their catechism sessions.

In the afternoon, Fr Watchasil Kritcharoen, together with his team of 6 staff from the Catechetical Center of the Catholic Diocese of Ratchaburi, conducted a 'workshop' on teaching catechism on the theme of 'Laudato Si'' in practice, through the use of games and various activities which was filled with substance, fun and knowledge.

The seminar-workshop proceeded well with the cooperation of all the Congregations in the Salesian Family. The Commission on Catechesis of the Salesian Family was established on August 2018 in order to cooperate with one another for the continuous development of the teaching of catechism according to the Salesian spirit.

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