Surat Thani (AsiaNews) – A group of young Thai Catholics visited five villages affected by the December 2004 tsunami. The field trip was organised by the Catholic Youth Commission which every year gives some young people the opportunity for some extracurricular activities during school break.

The 121 youth from ten Thai dioceses were accompanied by 36 volunteers, 15 mediators and 13 chaplains and guest speakers. For the first time the youth were able to invite their Buddhist and Muslim friends.

The field trip was titled "united with tsunami victims" and took its inspiration from the Gospel of St Matthew: "Where is the baby born to be the king of the Jews? We saw his star when it came up in the East, and we have come to worship Him."  (Mt 2:2)

Fr Suwat Luengsa-ard, Sister Supa Thongumpai and Sister Supawadee Kaengkit provided useful information about the Buddhist and Muslim culture of the five villages on the itinerary. They told their young cohort to see themselves as wise men following the star to find and adore Jesus, to be with people who suffer and become themselves a precious gift to others.

Although it is uncommon for people living in the south to receive strangers, the young visitors were welcomed warmly and with enthusiasm.

The hosts were told that the journey was intended to bring love and unity, that it was a way to learn their culture and lifestyle.

In the Muslim village where people were fasting, the visitors also fasted.

In the fishing village, they fished with the locals and learnt how to adapt to nature, finding out for example how to fish under a full moon.

A homemaker in Baan Kanim, one of the villages affected by the tsunami, said: "This is the first time since the tsunami that I went out to sea.  When we were struck by the tsunami [. . .] I felt death was coming to me before I was dragged out by the flood.  From then on I dared not go out to sea. . . .  [But] I came with all of you just because I do love you, the Catholic Youth who came to be with me today."

Mgr Joseph Prathan Sridarunsil, Bishop of the diocese of Surat Thani, presided over a mass at Baan Chumphaban, and spoke about his diocese, which covers 15 provinces in southern Thailand. Out of a total population of some 8.9 million people, close to 6,700 are Catholics.  Pastoral work is provided by 148 people, including 43 priests.

"The significant lesson for us is to be aware of simplicity," Sirikanya, a staff member with the Catholic Commission for Youth, said.

For Sister Thongumpai, "young Catholics learnt the lesson that unity begins when we accept others as they are." She mentioned that during their trip they joined in community projects such as building "a small pavilion by the river".

For some Catholic youth it was astonishing to see some people in the village of Mogan "living on only 200 bath (US$ 50) for a family of eight. It was deeply moving since [many of us] are sometimes too spendthrift."

Fr Suksan Chaopaknam, secretary-general of the Catholic Youth Commission, said "young Catholics are well aware of their being stars, shining light of affection. [. . .] They felt the living Jesus in the people they met regardless of their religion. They shared their friendship as a gift to those poor people".