Missione Salute n. 2/2017

The chapel dedicated to St. Camillus in Sampran Nakorn Pathom was built in response to certain needs of our Camillian Social Centre which is made up of  a house for formation for pre-novices and for temporary professed, who are preparing for religious life, and a house of welcome for elderly people who need assistance because they have been weakened by age and illness. In the centre there was no chapel worthy of the name and thus, advised by a number of benefactors, we thought about a place for liturgical service and our religious needs. Often, previously, one had to go and ‘beg’ for a place for our functions when there were priestly ordinations or religious professions.

During the fourth centenary of the death of St. Camillus we began building work for a new edifice and on 21 February 2015 the chapel was solemnly blessed by the Provincial Superior, Father Cherdchai Lertfjtlekha; by the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Msgr. Paolo Tschang In-Nam; and by the member of the General Consulta of the Order, Fr. Gianfranco Lunardon.

Although it cost us many sacrifices, its creation was immediately shown to be an excellent solution to our needs and it has become a centre for prayer for those in the centre, as well as for a large group of faithful. At the present time a Holy Mass is celebrated every day and on Sunday there are two Masses: one in Vietnamese for the Vietnamese people who work in the local area (a community of about 150 people) and one in Thai for the religious, the guests and the faithful of the local area. The chapel was recently decorated with pictures that illustrate the life of St. Camillus in order to become a source of instruction and knowledge about our Founder. Almost two years after it was opened, the community believes that this chapel was the best initiative that could have been taken for the service that is offered and for the faithful. The community of Sampran, grateful for what has been achieved, takes this opportunity to thank those who cooperated to ensure that this dream could become a reality.

Sante Tocchetto

GALLERIA FOTOGRAFICA