FABC Seminar for Office of Clergy at Bangkok

ASSUMPTION UNIVERSITY

I was in Bangkok together with Frs Gerard Theraviam, Christopher Wilvaraj and George Harrison attending a seminar organised by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conference (FABC) themed “Formation of Positive, Integral, Effective and Humanly Well-developed Priests for the Continent of Asia”.

The seminar which commenced on 7th May and ended on 11th May was held at the Suvarnabhumi Campus (Assumption University), Samut Prakan, Thailand. The campus is constructed as a “University of Park”, comprising almost 200 acres of beautifully landscaped assemblies of mixed architecture surrounded by tropical gardens and trees.  

A total of 100 Archbishops, bishops and priests from 10 countries in Asia attended this seminar which was targeted especially for formators who are teaching at the seminaries and responsible for forming the seminarians.

Our first day commenced with the Morning Prayer and the Eucharistic celebration presided by Bishop Vianney from Sri Lanka. Another first day ‘experience’ was the unfortunate power failure. Nevertheless, we continued with the sessions despite the heat and discomfort.

Bro. Martin

On the last day we had an unexpected visitor during our lunch break today and personally I would consider it as a historic moment for me. Our visitor was no other than the founder of Assumption University, Rev Bro. Dr.Prathip Martin Komolmas. The 90-year old President Emeritus who is partially blind, was accompanied by the present President Rev Bro Bancha Saenghiran. Established in 1969, the Assumption University is a private university administered by the Brothers of St. Gabriel, who have been active in education in Thailand since 1901.

St Gabriel is a worldwide Catholic Religious Order devoted to education and philanthropic activities. The religious order was founded in France 1705 by St. Louis Marie De Montfort. Presently, the University has a student body of about 20,000 including a large number of foreign students drawn from 75 countries of the world.

When will we establish a Catholic University or a Catholic College for higher learning in Malaysia? Dreams do come true, and let us pray that this dream will come true for us too.