Fr. Bruno Sopelsa of St. Francis of Assisi Church, Lamphun, coordinated a visit with the Faculty of Theology of Triveneto. A group of 21 students and 2 priests who led the students as part of their Summer Program with the topic Interreligious Dialogue were in Bangkok- Chiang Mai on 10th – 24th July 2023. They had a conference and seminar with the MahachulalongkornRajavidyalaya University, met with missionaries, monks, pastoral staff and clergy, theologians and bishops while in Bangkok. They wanted to learn how the minority Church in Thailand faces challenges which is different from European Church. H. E. Bishop Vira A. welcomed them in the Catholic Mission Center of Chiang Mai and was briefed about the Diocese’s reality by Fr. Sasin and Fr. Rafael S. They visited the Cathedral and the Sacred Heart College and had lunch together there.

The next day, also a group of 11 Jesuit priests and seminarians who came from Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar Indonesia and East Timor and are also studying about Buddhism joined the Triveneto group, together they visited two prestigious Buddhist temples in Chiang Mai: Wat Palad and Wat Ramphoeng (Tapotaram); they were accompanied by the Focolare group. The Abbot of these two temples have met the foundress of the Focolare Movement –Chiara Lubich and the friendship still continues at present. They were welcomed warmly and had an extra-ordinary dialogue, sharing of experiences regarding Buddhism and Christianity. The common values present in all religions: love, compassion, kindness, hospitality and the desire to live as brothers and sisters to spread Peace and harmony have filled the heart of each one as the day ended.