Mission with the Migrants in Thailand
St. Mary Mazzarello Province in Thailand is operating its mission with the Pakistani migrants at Sam Phran, Phetkasem 44 (Bangkok). The Pakistanis number about 10,000 in and around Bangkok. Fr. Anucha Chaopraeknoi is the diocesan priest responsible for the BKK Diocesan Refugee Centre. The FMA, VIDES association, and the Salesian Sisters Youth Volunteers work in collaboration with the diocese and Mrs. Orawan Polsomboon, Past-Pupil President.
The first step was the meeting of the community of Marie Upatham of Sam Phran with the priest responsible for knowing the situation and able to discern the contribution the Salesians could offer. They then went to the site to get to know it and gather information on the people, and then they visited the families housed in the condominiums.
At Phetkasem 44, they help about 30 families of various religions: Christians, Muslims, Pentecostals, and others. Every Sunday, they meet at St. Luis Parish of Bangkhe. After Mass, once a month, they are given food and personal items, and they are taught to make small items to sell and earn some money. They also teach them the English and Thai languages.
Some FMA schools have inserted them as teachers or domestic collaborators. Some children have been received as students. Other migrants are directed toward other Entities that help them find a place. It is not always easy to help them as we would life to because of severe police control, since most of them have no documents.
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