by Weena Kowitwanij

Even in Thailand, parents are failing to pass on their religious traditions, leaving it up to children to decide once they reach adulthood. A young engineer warns that this way "one loses the possibility of developing the faith early on." Another Catholic student talks about meeting fellow Catholic students and how that helped her in her studies as well.

Bangkok (AsiaNews) - In countries with a long and deep religious tradition like Thailand, it is necessary to pass on the faith to one's children from childhood to resist the all-pervasive relativism. Mass, praying and Church-related activities must provide an opportunity to "meet and compare" and be a source of joy to realise a life full of daily commitments, work and duties, this according to two young Catholics born and raised in mixed Catholic-Buddhist families. When they reached adulthood, they discovered again or for the first time the importance of mission and bearing witness to the Word of God in everyday life, especially in the weeks of Lent in preparation for the Easter of Resurrection.

Joseph Sajwatchara Srisawad, 25, is an engineer. After he graduated from Chulalongkorn University, he began working for a Japanese firm. Before that, he studied at the St Dominic School, which is run by the Salesian Congregation of St John Bosco. Ever since, he has found strength in faith in Christ allowing him to lead a better life. "I regularly go to Sunday Mass with my mother and my younger brothers," he told AsiaNews. "My father instead is Buddhist."

Nowadays, parents tend to fail to pass on the faith to their children, leaving it up to them to decide what religion to follow when they become adults. This is wrong, according to Joseph, because "one loses the possibility of developing the faith early on. Something is missing. I was lucky to have met God as a child."

"All religions have some positive aspects," he explained, but added that he is "proud" of his Catholic faith "because we can experience the presence of God for He is the Way, Truth and Life."

Teresa Parisa Patara-ratna, 20, is studying accounting in college. She and her sisters were educated to have faith in Christ from childhood, whilst her father is Buddhist. She admits that "as a child I initially did not want to go to Mass. But then, every time I left the church I felt good."

Her mother got her to read passages from the Bible and recite the Rosary along with her sisters. When she could not do it because she had to study, her mother "regularly left small notes on her desk with phrases from the Gospel that touched my heart."

For the young woman, the first two years of college were hard. Despite her best efforts, she was not getting good marks. In her third year, after meeting a group of Catholic students she began to go to retreats, pray, attend Mass and take part in summer camps. Thus, something changed in her way of life, not only in college but also in life in general.

"Joining the Catholic club made me happy," she told AsiaNews. "I thank God for giving me a life full of love and blessings."

• thailand
• young
• catholics
• faith
• education
• relativism