By Fr. Francis Ronnachai, SDB

       Bangkok, Thailand, 11 September 2022 -- On Friday September 9, 2022 His Eminence Cardinal Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij, Archbishop of Bangkok, presided at the Mass celebrating the 60th year of Saint Dominic School, Bishop Joseph Prathan Sridarunsil, Bishop of Surat Thani, and Bishop Silvio Siripong Charatsri, Bishop of Chanthaburi attended this special occasion together with 40 priests. Furthermore, in this ceremony, the Cardinal blessed the Saint Dominic Savio medal followed by blessing the Magone Arena, then gave an honour to join the photo taking with the teachers and staff of the school.

       After the ceremony at the Magone Arena, a congratulatory ceremony was held to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the school at S.D. Auditorium, 3rd Floor, John Bosco's Bicentenary Building. The ceremony began with a short theatrical performance "A moment to remember: Once upon a time in the heart." The key concept of this wonderful performance was to convey the values of St. John Bosco's Preventive System, aiming to nurture the lives of children and youths as Dominic Seeds to grow up to be upright citizens of the nation and to become good religious followers, especially in terms of life values: to give, to sacrifice, to help others and the society. Later on, there was a presentation displaying the brief history of the school as well as the development in various aspects that contribute to the creation of children and youth as human beings that grow in all aspects of life.

       Then Father Joseph Kriangsak Chaiyapornkaew, SDB Rector and Principal of the School, thanked and presented a souvenir to the three awardees who gave the highest honour to the St. Dominic family. At the end of the congratulatory ceremony, the three awardees had honoured to present plaques to the individuals and organisations that supported the construction of John Bosco's Bicentenary Building.

       On this glorious and auspicious occasion, the School was honoured with the representatives of the Salesian family consisting of the Salesian Sisters - Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Sisters of the Queenship of Mary, and Daughters of the Queenship of Mary Secular Institute as well as the president, the former president and the committee of Parents and Teachers Association on behalf of parents; the president and former president and the committee of Alumni Association (Don Bosco Past Pupils) on behalf of the alumni also came to express their congratulations.

       In the afternoon, there was a special basketball match between the Kratom Plai Na Team (Salesian members) with the Solar Cell Roof Team (St. Dominic Teachers), the basketball matches were alternated with a tug-of-war competition for Grade 1 to Grade 3 students at Saint Dominic Stadium and an intramural sports competition at the Magone Arena.

       The "60th Anniversary of Saint Dominic School” is another important step of the school's history that has been blessed by Christ since its inception until today. It is an event that brings love, pride, joy, and appreciation to every member of the St. Dominic family. The coming of many honourable people is like nectar to nourish the hearts of the elders, administrators, teachers, and all staff at St. Dominic's School to have the determination and strength in carrying out the mission of educating children and youth to be "The Person The Country Desires" of Thai society for eternity.

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