A Salesian Receives a Certificate and Medal of Honor

By Fr.Patrick Maccioni

Vientiane, Laos, 11 January 2021 -- On 6 January 2021, at the Lao Youth Union Headquarters, Fr Patrick Maccioni, Rector of Don Bosco Youth Vocational Training Center, Vientiane-Laos, was awarded a III degree Medal with the official signature and stamp of Bounnhang Vorachith, the President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. The ceremony was presided over by Alounxai Souvannalath,Secretary General of the Lao Youth Union and member of the Lao National Assembly, in the presence of more than 100 Lao Youth Union Officials on the occasion of their annual evaluation meeting. The Medal was awarded as a sign of appreciation for the great work being done by the Don Bosco Salesian Foundation of Thailand to help the poor Lao young people.

Sr Tuong Van and Sr Thuy, FMA Sisters received a similar medal for the same reason. Also the manager of the Thai Rach-Lao company received a medal for sponsoring scholarships to help young people start up their activity.

Let us thank the Lord and Don Bosco that our work for the poor youth is known at government level. We hope that these signs of appreciation will bear fruit for the development of our Don Bosco Center and in the Land of Laos where many young people are still waiting for Don Bosco!

The work of the Salesians in Laos started on 24 May 2004 under the leadership of Fr Tito Pedron and Mr. Sanya Boonprasert, Past Pupil of Don Bosco. They started by repairing small vehicles. This activity was called "Mitr Samphan". This was managed by 5 young Laotians who were past pupils of Don Bosco Technological College - Bangkok. Later, this work was expanded and became the Don Bosco Vocational Training Center at its present location. The canonical erection of the house was on 17 January 2019. A community was erected with Fr Patrick Maccioni as rector, together with two other confreres, namely, Fr. John Paul Vu Van Trung, and Fr. John Baptist Huy Hoang.

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