JANUARY & FEBRUARY 2025 ENGLISH NEWS SUMMARY
(Summarized and translated from FB Chiang Mai Diocese by Santa Agustilo)
45 years as Catechist and Epiphany Church Feast Day
On January 4, 2025, the Epiphany Church had a double celebration organized by Fr. Chokdee Damrong Anurak and the faithful. It was the Feast Day of the Epiphany and Moses Montree Ploikhiri had been serving the community as a Catechist for 45 years. A special occasion to honor and thank him for his untiring service to the Church. Around 4 nearby villages came to celebrate the occasion together.
The Thanksgiving celebration was presided by H. E. Archbishop Vira Arpondratana who administered the Sacrament of Confirmation of 25 youth as well. H.E. met with the youth one hour before mass and reviewed with them the importance of the role of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Christians.
After the Thanksgiving mass, the festive lunch followed, with performances by the youth and faithful from various villages. The first Akha priest of Betharram Congregation-Fr. Ta was present in the celebration and made a surprise performance by singing on stage, to the joy of everyone.
Celebration of St. John Church, Mae Ho
On January 5, 2025, at St. John Church, Mae Ho celebrated its feast day which was usually held on December 27th. It was Epiphany Sunday and the main celebrant was H.E. Archbishop Vira Arpondratana. Many villagers came from different locations to celebrate followed by the meeting of the village leaders to plan and discuss various activities through the leadership of Fr. Chupong Chuangchatrakul, the parish priest.
Verona, Italy Visitors
On January 9-16, 2025 together with 18 of his parishioners, Fr. Ezio Falavanga visited Chiang Mai for the second time (the 1st time was at the end of January 2018 during the blessing of St. Zeno Church, Ban Nano, Samoeng). They also visited Bangkok, Lampang and Chiang Dao.
It all started when Chiang Mai Diocese got to know Rev. Fr. Ezio Falavenga who came to conduct a retreat to the Fidei Donum of Triveneto priests from Italy who had been working in the pastoral and missionary work in Chiang Mai for more than 25 years.
It’s a blessing to know him. He had always welcomed the priests from Chiang Mai Diocese who studied in Italy. He offered them hospitality in his monastery while continuing their studies. The priests who had the opportunity to study in Verona, Italy were: Fr. Wirasak Yongsripanithan, Fr. Sarawut Haeto, Fr. Sirichai Bungasawan, Fr. Sasin Mopho, Fr. Sorasak Charoensukthawiphun and Fr. Nontachai Rithoo (currently studying there).
H.E. Bishop Vira Arpondratana thanked him for his second visit, his friendship, kindness and support. This event made an impression of the beauty of the universal Church even more.
Breaking News: Bishop of Chiang Mai’s New Assignment
Pope Francis has named Bishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana, currently serving as the Bishop of Chiang Mai, as the new Archbishop of Bangkok. H. E. was appointed as Bishop of Chiang Mai Diocese by Pope Benedict XVI on 10th February, 2009 and consecrated by Cardinal Michael Michai Kitbunchu to the episcopate at Sacred Heart Cathedral on 1st May, 2009.
The Apostolic Nunciature to Thailand announced on Saturday, January 11, 2025 as the Catholic Church in the country commemorates the 25th beatification anniversary of Blessed Nicholas Boonkerd Kritbamrung.
He was a Thai martyr who dedicated to evangelization and catechesis, was accused of collaboration with foreign powers and imprisoned in 1944. The Eucharistic celebration of Blessed Nicholas Boonkerd Kritbamrung was presided by Bishop Francis Xavier Vira Arporndratana, Bishop-elect of the Archdiocese of Bangkok with Cardinal Francis Xavier Kriangsak Kovitvanich at the Shrine of Blessed Nicholas Boonkerd Kritbamrung in Samphran.
Blessing of St. Bernadette Chapel, Ban Din Khao
St. Bernadette Chapel was blessed and inaugurated by H.E. Bishop Vira Arpondratana on Sunday, January 19, 2025. The 25th chapel is situated at Baan Mae Tum Nuea, Ban Dinkhao, Mae Chaem. There are 30 parishes in Mae Chaem district and this current chapel is the 3rd building built with the love and unity of 38 Catholic Families.
Accompanied by the three priests, on the way back, H.E. stopped by the church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at Pa Fang to meet Fr. Anuwat, Maepon sisters and 29 youth staying at the Youth center. They also visited a chapel on construction and nearing its completion. It’s considered as another beautiful chapel in the area and was scheduled for blessing on the 5th of April, 2025.
Teacher’s Day
January 18th, 2025 a joint celebration of Teacher’s Day from 3 different schools of the diocese of Chiang Mai was held at the Chiang Mai Grandview Hotel. The three schools of the diocese are: Sacred Heart College of Chiang Mai, Silavee School of Chiang Dao and Arunothai School of Lampang. Rev. Fr. Jongchor Keawma, Director of Education for the Diocese of Chiang Mai, and the sisters who served as administrators of the 3 schools jointly organized the 19th event. There were 190 teachers present and a special lecture was on “The Role of Teachers in the Digital Age” by H. E. Bishop Vira Arpondratana, followed by the Eucharistic celebration and lunch.
Awards of plaques were given to outstanding teachers of the school institutes and awards for teaching for 25, 35, and 40 years, totaling 8 people. There were lucky draws, performances, and games led by the teacher leaders of each school to encourage and create good friendships.
Opening of the Holy Year 2025 @ St. Paul Church, Mae Sariang
On January 25, 2025, district 4 of Chiang Mai Diocese held the Eucharistic celebration to open the Jubilee Year at St. Paul Church, Mae Sariang. This is one of the pilgrimage churches of Chiang Mai Diocese. Father Aphikorn Komonpitakchai, a newly ordained priest, presided the holy mass attended by all the priests working in Mae Hong Son province and the different religious representatives.
District 4 comprises of 11 parish churches covering Mae Hong Son Province, including: St. Paul Church, Mae Sariang (the first church in Mae Hong Son Province); St. John the Apostle Church, Mae Ho; St. Lorenzo Ruiz Church, Sop Moei; St. Genoveva Church, Na Pa Pae; St. Peter Church, Mae Lan Noi; St. John the Baptist Church, Mae Tho; St. Peter Church, Khun Mae La; Mother Mary Church, Nong Haeng; Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Khun Yuam; St. Cecilia Church, Huai Ton Nun; and St. Francis Xavier Church, Mae Hong Son.
District 4 has 159 Chapels or mission centers spread across various villages, with 59,298 Christians who have been baptized and 5,088 Christians who are preparing for baptism (data from 2023).
Blessing of the Divine Mercy Chapel, Ban Mae Pun, Maesariang
On February 27-28, 2025, H. E. Archbishop Vira Arpondratana travelled to Chiang Mai and
joined the activity at the Sacred Heart College with its administrators, staff, teachers, students and the Parent-Teacher Association. H.E. then travelled to Mae Ho, visited Fr. Chupong and saw the progress of the renovation of St. John church; proceeded to Sop Moei to visit Father Khamma and Father Joey and saw the construction of St. Anthony Church, which was 60% complete and expected to be finished by May 2025.
Then, the following day, continued the trip early in the morning and stopped at St. Paul Church, Mae Sariang. He met the 4 sisters of Maria Bambina congregation working in Mae Hong Son. They are currently helping in the pastoral and missionary work especially with the Myanmar refugees. Their presence is so important to the local church. H. E. thanked them for their service and bade farewell.
H. E. then proceeded to Baan Mae Pun, where the new chapel of Divine Mercy was waiting for the blessing. Fr. Boonlert S. – the parish priest together with the priests in the area, Mae Pon Sisters, Ursuline Sisters and around 200 people joined in the opening and blessing of the chapel. There was joy in everyone who were thankful for the new house of prayer as they were reminded by His Excellency Bishop Vira that each one is a dwelling place, a temple of the Holy Spirit.
“Family, Journey of Hope 2025”
The theme of the Family Meeting on February 15-16 at the International Youth Training Center (IYTC), Chom Thong District, Chiang Mai was “Family, Journey of Hope 2025” organized by the Focolare of Chiang Mai and Bangkok. There were around 80 persons compose of couples, single parents and children from Chiang Rai, Nan and various places of Chiang Mai province, Bangkok and Singapore.
The topics discussed were: Family in God’s Plan, The Role of Family, The Differences between Man and Woman and The Communication between Parents and Teens. Testimonies of many concrete experiences made it clearer to understand and set good examples for the families.
There was a profound moment of reconciliation among husbands and wives. Fr. Mongkol Charoentham, SCJ and Fr. Prasert, C. Ss.R. administered the Sacrament of Reconciliation followed by a solemn moment of the renewal of marriage vows for 17 couples during the mass.
Everyone recharged and renewed in a couple’s life went back home with more confidence. The miracle of love can always happen when “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in their midst” (Matt. 18:20).
Celebration of St. John Bosco, Doi Saket
The feast of Don Bosco is usually celebrated on 31st January every year but on this occasion Fr. Piya had invited H.E. Bishop Vira Arpondratana on Sunday, February 23, 2025. Father Somchai Kitnichi and Brother Paitoon who helped take care of the Youth Center with Brother Sarapan Kaechoe who is responsible for the Mae Rim Catechism Center, all together joined in the celebration.
Youth from the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and from Baan Bethany of Regina College, children from Baan Phonsawan of the Lovers of the Cross, Tharae and alumni of Baan Don Bosco were present. During the holy mass, 13 youth received the Sacrament of Confirmation and 4 children received their first communion. It was followed by lunch and a sports competition.
It is a blessing for the diocese in having religious congregations joining in the mission for children and youth, giving them the opportunity to receive training in the Salesian way: fostering personal growth, development through reason and religion and loving-kindness.
Celebration of St. Michael Garicoits Church, Chiang Dao
The feast day of St. Michael Garicoits the founder of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Bétharram is usually celebrated on the 14th of May every year. In Chiangdao, Fr. Sirichai Bungasawan with the parish council and the sisters of St. Paul de Chartres administrators of the Silavee School and Princess Ubonrat School have organized the celebration on 22nd February 2025.
On this occasion, H.E. Bishop Vira Arpondratana presided the Eucharistic celebration, administered the sacrament of confirmation to 26 students and adults; and recognized 5 couples who had been married for 25 years on the occasion of the Jubilee Year 2025. There were priests, sisters, villagers, youth, and the district 3 faithful, visitors from Lampang and Samphran who came to celebrate and make pilgrimage.
The Presence of H.E. Bishop Vira A. was a blessing and they were very grateful that even though H.E. already transferred to the Archdiocese of Bangkok, H.E. gave generously time to be present.
50th Anniversary of St. Peter Church, Mae Lan Noi
On February 15, 2025, the parish church of St. Paul, Mae La Noi celebrated its 50th anniversary. This Parish is a community of faith from which gave birth to other Christian communities of Ban Hua Tok Ko, Mae La Noi, Mae Hong Son. To celebrate the Jubilee Year on the “Pilgrims of Hope” they were honored by the presence of Bishop Francis Xavier Vira Arporndratana as the presider.
On the same occasion, the Social Affairs Department of the Diocese, together with the Parish, organized the annual Rice Merit Fund activity of the Parish. It is one of their main activities in collaboration with other parish areas. This activity is organized throughout the Jubilee Year 2025 to help the underprivileged, to move forward together with the hope that those who lack food will have the opportunity to have enough rice to consume throughout the year.
