Blessing of Benedictine Retreat House
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On September 9, 2024 the new Retreat House of the Vietnamese Benedictine Monastery in Hang Dong District was blessed by H.E. Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana. Around 35 people including priests, religious and lay friends attended while some came from Vietnam. The diocese is proud to have a house forspiritual renewal for lay, religious and interested people.
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Visit to St. Joseph Seminary at Samphran, Nakhon Pathom
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On September 15, 2024, H. E. Bishop F.X. Vira Arpondratana was welcomed by Fr. Witthaya Latloi to St. Joseph Minor Seminary. His Excellency visited the minor seminarians who introduced themselves one by one and had dinnerwith them. A total of 103 seminarians were present coming from 3 Dioceses: 69 from Bangkok, 27 from Chiang Mai and 7 from Chiang Rai. Fr. Paul Saefrung (Fr. Tee) from Chiang Mai Diocese helps take care of the seminarians.
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National Youth Day 2024
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On the occasion of National Youth Day, Zone 1 of Chiang Mai diocese organized a Youth Day on 21 Sept. 2024 with the support of the Serra Group. The theme was “Moving Forward Together, Young Serrans Care for the World”, the 170 Youths learned how preserve and care for the environment, aduty for all to work together, to act now, and to do so with hope.
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Claris Monastery Visited by Flood Rescue Team
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On 28th September 2024 after the first flood in Chiang Mai, Dr. Atiwat Chuenwut, President of the Thammapracha Foundation, visited the Claris Monastery at Saraphi District which was hit by highlevel flooding. They brought some goods to help the monastery. The Mayor of Nong Phueng Municipality assigned the members of the Foundation to welcome and guide them to the area. They received support from the Central Rescue Foundation and Siam Ruam Jai Rescue. The following day, he also visited the Maepon Sisters at the Catholic Mission Center in Changklan Road and brought goods to distribute to others during the flood.
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CHIANG MAI FLOOD 2024
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In late September and early October, 2024 following the continuous heavy rain, especially in the northern regions of Thailand, a very severe flooding had occurred. The Ping River overflowed which resulted in casualties and damages. The first flooding was on the 25-28th September and again on 4th – 7 th October, according to media reports, in Chiang Mai more than 80 people have been evacuated in a dozen shelters due to floods and flash floods.
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Homes and agricultural products have been extensively damaged. Although government agencies, private sectors, and various charitable organizations have provided initial assistance, people have suffered, it caused shortage of food and drinking water. To demonstrate the unity in faith in Christ, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand invited all the dioceses of Thailand to show love and compassion to the victims. Generous help arrived from the faithful and volunteers.
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Father Ugo Donini, SCJ Bid Goodbye!
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While the water was rising steadily on Friday morning, October 4th, 2024, Father Ugo Donini, dressed smartly (with Father Alberto Pensa), came to Catholic Mission Center bringing a picture of the Last Supper (3D image) to bid farewell to Bishop Francis X. Vira Arpondratana. Father Donini was going back to Italy. He has been a missionary of the Betharam Congregation in Thailand for 56 years (1968-2024). He used to stay at the Joseph Seminary in Sam Phran, where the late Bishop Joseph Nittayo retired to the Little Seminary, and became a missionary in the Chiang Mai Diocese. With grateful hearts we ask God to bless and grant him good health, peace and joy for having served the Thai people.
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Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, Khun Yuam
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On the 4th October 2024, H.E. Bishop F.X. Vira Arpondratana had to be assisted to facilitate the trip to Mae Hong Son due to the rising water flooding the Changklan road.H.E. was the celebrant of the Eucharistic celebration on the feast of the Lady of the Rosary parish in Khun Yuam on 5th October 2024. In order to reach there, H.E has to connect to the bus at Panthip Plaza where the route is still passable. Thankful for the help received the celebration went on.
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Fr. Somyot Thepsamut celebrated the “triduum” with around 120 faithful. There were also 10 volunteers from Bangkok attending the celebration. Performances by the Youth and the Housewives groups, Football and Volleyball matches created fun and relaxation for the whole community. In going back to Chiang Mai, the flood was still rising, the Changklan road was impassable and H.E. F.X. Vira had to stay in Marina House for the night.
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CHIANG MAI AFTER THE FLOOD SUBSIDED
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Days after the severe flooding, the homes, schools, churches and streets were covered with brown sticky mud and all the flood waste imaginable. Cleaning had to be organized and started right away. Piles of different kinds of garbage lined up along the streets that needed to be attended to.
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Everybody rolled up their sleeves and started the clean-up operation. Solidarity and generous help were received from friends, neighbors, volunteers and the faithful in different ways: financial help, time, energy, prayers and many others. Thank you one and all for your concrete help coming from compassionate loving hearts.
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Hmong Catholic Youth Camp
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On October 15-19, 2024, the northern dioceses of Nakhon Sawan, Tak, Nan, Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai held a Youth Camp for Hmong youth at the Love and Sharing Foundation, Chomthong, Chiang Mai. The theme was “Rejoice in Hope” (Rom 12:12) with a total of 236 youths participated in the camp.
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The aims were for the northern youth Hmong Catholics to meet, exchange experiences, do activities together, learn the Apostolic Letter Laudato Si’ and to be aware of the current environmental problems and find ways to protect the common home. They have studied the message of Pope Francis on the occasion of the 38th World Youth Day under the theme “Rejoice in Hope” (Rom 12:12). “Christ lives, He is our hope, and in a miraculous way He brings youth to our world” (Christus Vivit, 1). The retreat speakers were Father Somsak Saenyakul, Father Nikhom Pongwisutsakul, and the Catechists of the Redemptorist Church (Hmong Catholic Center) Chiang Mai. Thanking them together with many others from different villages who made this camp a success.
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“The Right to Food for a Better Life and a Better Future.”
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On Sunday, October 27, 2024, the Diocese of Chiang Mai together with 4 parishes in Mae Hong Son Province and the Women’s Department jointly organized World Food Day and the Local Food Campaign Day at St. Peter Church, Mae La Noi under the theme “Right to foods for a better life and a better future”.
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H.E. Bishop Francis Xavier Vira Arporndratana presided the event with the representatives of the clergy of the district 4 Mae Hong Son. Participated by men and women religious and faithful from various parishes, especially parishes in Mae Hong Son Province, who joined in organizing the event. Featuring Food booths of local agricultural products of the different tribes from the production process to cooking into different types of food.
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The aims of the event were:
– To jointly bear witness of the Christian faith in God’s creation and revive community’s local wisdom in caring for the nature sustainably.
– ‭To pass on to new generations of farmers and promote alternative markets for consumers.
– Create awareness to help the hungry and starving without leaving anyone behind.
– Campaign to promote the production and consumption of safe food.
– Encourage everyone to use resources well, appreciate their value, do not waste and take care of them (Laudato Si).
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The World Food Festival in Mae La Noi showed great cooperation of brothers and sisters from various parishes which brought food to feed about 1,500 villagers. It was an opportunity to remind each other to be aware of the right to food, abundant agriculture with a sustainable food system that belongs to the various tribes.
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Congratulations Fr. Matthew Sorasak and Sr. Maria!
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On October 24, 2024Oct.24 Rev. Fr. Matthew Sorasak Charoensukthawiphun from the Diocese of Chiang Mai who had been studying at the University of Urbaniana, Rome, Italy graduated with a Master’s degree in Biblical Theology together with Sister Maria (from China). Congratulations to both of them.
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Day of the Poor
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On November 17, 2024, through the encouragement of Pope Francis to focus on helping the poor in a concrete way. At the Catholic Mission Center from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon, the sisters and staff distributed eggs and pumpkins given by villagers to children at Baan Phonsawan, the faithful, and the neighborhood of the mission center. Father Sasin brought 20 food packages to give after the mass at the Tong Luang elephant camp, the street sweepers in front of the CMC, the garbage collectors, and the people under the nearby bridge. While Caritas Chiang Mai went to encourage the refugees from Myanmar in Sop Moei District.
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December Celebrations
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Celebrating Christmas and 50 years of St. Teresa Church Community, Ban Khun Om Long is one event of the many others celebrations in the Diocese of Chiang Mai during the Advent Season. On the weekend of 21-22 December 2024, H.E. Bishop F.X. Vira Arpondratana concelebrated with Bishop Joseph Vuthilert Haelom the Eucharistic celebration in the morning with a total of 70 people: priests and other Bishops members of the CBCT at the office in Soi Nonsi, Bangkok.
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In the afternoon, H.E. travelled to Samoeng, Chiang Mai to celebrate the 50th year of St. Teresa Church, Khun Om Long whose pastor is Fr. Father Thammanun Jindadujsaichon and Father D. Savio Sathit Sa-I as the assistant pastor. This community was started by Fr. Sala of Betharram Congregation since 1973. From this village, 2 were called to be priests, 1 sister, a catechist and staff in the diocese.
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JUBILEE Year 2025 “Pilgrims of Hope”
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The Catholic Church has announced the celebration of the Holy Year 2025 under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope” and began on the evening of December 24, 2024 in Rome and will end on January 6, 2026.
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For the Diocese of Chiang Mai, it began on Saturday, December28, 2024 and will end on Saturday, December 27, 2025, as announced by Bishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana on November 6, 2024 and H. E. designated 8 churches in the Diocese of Chiang Mai as pilgrimage churches. For more details about the Jubilee Year 2025 local activities, go to http://www.cmdiocese.org and www.jubilee2025th.com. Below is the list of the 8 churches
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On December 28, 2024 at 10:00 a.m., the Diocese of Chiang Mai held a magnificent opening ceremony of the Holy Year at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, presided by Bishop Francis Xavier Vira Arporndratana, fully packed with priests, male and female religious, children, youth and Christian brothers and sisters from various indigenous and ethnic groups. The atmosphere of family in the same faith was so strong.
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On this occasion, Bishop Francis Xavier Vira Arporndratana encouraged everyone in caring for the family not as a heavy burden but as the Church wished families to be warm, open to the needs of others and not closed doors, but rather are open following the example of the Holy Family. “This Holy Year, let us live with hope and not despise the cross because it is a symbol of His love for us humans. Let us accept hardships and follow Jesus because He will never disappoint us.” H. E. concluded