Born to Love

Recollection For Thai Vocational College Students

After a two-year pause because of the pandemic, a Recollection or Spiritual Renewal Activity for vocational college students from Daruna Ratchaburi Vocational College and Daruna Ratchaburi Polytechnic College was organized again. On February 10-11, 2023, thirty-two (32) Thai young people from the two colleges gathered at the Carmelite Missionaries convent in Baan Santi, Ratchaburi, Thailand, to reflect and pray on the theme “BORN TO LOVE.” These students, who were of different religious backgrounds; 5 Catholics, 12 Christians, 1 Islam, and 12 Buddhists, were from the Catholic Catechism classes in the two colleges. Sr. Juliet Nolasco, department head of the Ethics and Catechism Department in Daruna Ratchaburi Vocational College, and five catechists from the two colleges organized prayer sessions, group sharings, and games allowed the participants to reflect on the 4 Types of Love; Philia, Storge, Eros and Agape.

Despite their different faith beliefs, these young people openly participated in liturgical sessions such as evening praise, Taize, Shibashi as body prayer, and the Eucharistic Celebration. It was inspiring to see how the Holy Spirit moved them to open up, share their personal experiences with their families and their friends, and actively participate in group activities. The organizers felt blessed to have witnessed this change in the students, who usually had a private and reserved demeanor during the regular catechism classes. Everyone went home happy, enlightened, inspired, and thankful for the time to savor the all-encompassing love of God for us.

By: Sr. Juliet Nolasco, CM