Australian Salesian Bulletin

On January 30th, being the eve of St John Bosco’s Feast, Rev Monthon Rojjanasutadkul SDB was ordained a priest in St Joseph’s Church in the Salesian parish of Ban Pong in Thailand. For the occasion three bishops and many Salesian, diocesan and religious clergy concelebrated, about 70 priests in total. The principal ordaining prelate was the Salesian Bishop Joseph Prathan Srdarunsil SDB of Surat Thani Diocese. He was also Monthon’s former provincial and rector. In attendance was also the bishop of the Ratchburi diocese, Bishop John Bosco Panya Kitchareon, and Bishop Tim Costelloe SDB Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne, who was Monthon’s Rector when he came to the Salesian Formation House in Clifton Hill, Melbourne, to complete his theological studies in Australia.  Bishop Costelloe was joined by his recent Rector, Fr Peter Rankin, and good friend Fr Frank Freeman as well as some of Monthon’s friends and fellow students from Catholic Theological College in Melbourne.

A large congregation witnessed a ceremony rich in symbolism and poignant moments.

After the ordaining bishop gave the vocational call to the ordained and the people applauded thus giving their consent, Monthon went to his parents and kneeling asked the blessing from whose vowed love his gift of life, faith and vocation came.

Then on entering the sanctuary, he laid prostrate in the traditional great act of humility and acceptance of his new calling as the congregation sought the assistance for him by chanting the Litany of the Saints. On arising he went to the bishop who in silence for a few moments laid his hands upon his head, as the Holy Spirit in the main is communicated in silence as in the moment of the \ Incarnation. Following the prayer of consecration each priestly friend and confrere present also in silence laid their hands on his head as a sign of admission and acceptance into their priestly order. The new priest was then clothed in the priestly vestments which, enclosed in a richly ornate Thai urn, had already symbolically been carried in procession by his parents.  Robed in the priestly vestments Monthon then took his place alongside the Bishops and with them received the Eucharistic gifts carried to the altar by his parents.

Following the Communion, Fr Monthon’s parents were presented with a beautiful statue of Our Lady Help of Christians by the local Bishop and Provincial of Thailand, Fr Theparat, to recognise the importance of the family in the nurture of a priestly and Salesian vocation. Following the Ordination Mass, the well known Thai hospitality was in evidence as they all enjoyed a special luncheon in honour of the newly ordained.

The First Mass was celebrated in the Monthon’s family’s Parish Church with dignity. Monthon led the celebration of the Eucharist with grace and composure. The Gospel reading was the passage whereby Jesus attended his home-town and was rejected by the townsfolk with the words “a prophet is despised in his own country”. The homilist, the Rector of the Salesian community at Hua Hin Fr Augustine Yarat Chaiyara, made the point that the large number of townsfolk who attended the First Mass meant Monthon was certainly not rejected by his townsfolk but many local people were able to rejoice in this special day of a newly ordained priest celebrating his First Mass in his home-town.

The Provincial, Fr Theparat, spoke after Communion and expressed his gratitude for the Formation received in Australia and challenged Monthon to become a zealous educator amongst the young wherever he was posted.  Both the ordination and the First Mass strengthen the already friendly bonds between the Salesian provinces of Thailand and Australia - Pacific.  Such bonds were also heightened by the presence in the congregation of a group of young Australian missionary volunteers who within days departed for their missions in Cambodia and North Thailand.

His many friends in Australia wish Rev Monthon Rojjanasutadkul all the blessings of God for a long priestly Salesian ministry among the youth of his beloved country Thailand.