MARCH & APRIL 2025 ENGLISH NEWS SUMMARY CHIANG MAI DIOCESE
(Summarized and translated from FB Chiang Mai Diocese by Santa Agustilo)
Administrator of Chiang Mai Diocese
On 10th March, 2025, the Chairman of the Advisory Council to the Bishop of Chiang Mai Diocese, Fr. Joseph Wayakorn Suksawat, announced the results of the election of the Diocesan Administrator following Pope Francis’ appointment of Bishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana as the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Bangkok. The elected Diocese Administrator of Chiang Mai is Rev. Fr. Hyginus Boonlert Sangkusolnaiphasutha. Congratulations Fr. Boonlert!
Mae Rim Catechetical Center Alumni Gathering
The 28th Alumni gathering was organized on 28th- 30th March 2025, a three days celebration. On the first day, a football match was held between the 29th alumni batch and current students. A Thanksgiving mass was celebrated. On the 2nd day, Khru Chongdee the coordinator of the Evangelization Committee organized the Sacrament of Reconciliation allowing the alumni to go to Confession. On Sunday, the last day, H. E. Archbishop Vira Arpondratana was present and met with the alumni and students of about 40 people, including the 4 graduates from the CCC- Mae Rim. They showed a 5-minute video thanking the diocese for the 45 years. After the solemn mass by H.E. Vira Arpondratana, lunch followed with the youth and children performing. Everyone was helping one another to have a successful event.
Annual Betharram Retreat and a Visit to Bishop F. X. Vira A.
The Betharram major seminarians of Thailand Congregation participated in their annual Retreat 2025 at the Betharram Foundation, Chom Thong, Chiang Mai. The retreat started on March 16 to March 21 and was led by Fr. Albert Sa-ard Prathansantiphong, SCJ. The theme of the retreat was: “Be Open, Arise, and Walk Together.”
A heartfelt gratitude was extended to Fr. Sa-ard P. for leading the retreat, to Fr. Mongkhon Charoentham, the director of the Betharram Foundation in Chom- Thong for his support, the benefactors who continually support the vocation of Betharram seminarians through their prayers, encouragement and necessary resources. And also, to all the staff and contributors.
Last February 25th, 2025 the Superior General of Betharram Congregation, Fr. Gustavo Agin, accompanied by Fr. Luke Kriangsak, met with Bishop Francis Xavier Vira A. of Chiangmai diocese and expressed gratitude for H.E. support to their mission in various parts of the diocese. The following day, together with the priest representatives and the seminarians, they offered thanks and wished Bishop God’s abundant blessings as he prepared to take on his new role as Archbishop of Bangkok. H.E. acknowledged their appreciation and expressed his gratitude to them.
Let’s Protect the Environment, “Laudato Si”
The Zone 4 of Chiang Mai Diocese invited children and youth around the area of St. Francis Xavier parish in Mae Hong Son, to join the life skills camp by changing the way of life, to be friendly to the world and help it to be livable. The project “Laudato Si”, Let’s Protect the World, Protect the Environment” was the theme of the camp last March 21-23, 2025, held at Mae Tho Klang Village, Mae Tho, Mae Lan Noi, Mae Hong Son. About 230 youth attended including the organizers who are priests, sisters, catechists, youth leaders coming from the Zone 4. The sub-topics were aimed in understanding deeper on the message of “Laudato Si”- “to live in peace with nature” by Fr. Aphikon K.; “Marriage for a Better Future”, by Fr. Aphinan S.; “Understanding Better the Jubilee Year 2025,” by Fr. Thinakorn L. and “Environmental Conservation in the Local Tradition and Culture,” by Mr. Aphidaet.
Overnight “English Chat” 2025
The Focolare Group of Chiang Mai organized an overnight camp at Ban Mai Huai Som, San Pa Tong, Chiang Mai for 54 children, aged 9-16, from various ethnic groups including Akha, Hmong, Lahu, Kachin, and Pgaz K”Nyau with a team of 14 organizers and caregivers. An interesting program was prepared to develop the children’s empathy and compassion along with listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills under the theme “Hope, Love, Unity, and Peace to Celebrate the Holy Year of Hope”. The mascots of the Jubilee year printed on bags were given out as a reminder that we’re pilgrims. The highlight of the camp was the campfire prayer for peace for earthquake victims, and a workshop on recycled notebooks for IDP children at the Myanmar-Thailand border. During the Sunday Mass in agreement with the officiating priest, the cash collection for the offertory was given to the SCH parish to help Myanmar earthquake victims.
Requiem Mass for Pope Francis: Thank You Holy Father!
On April 25, 2025, at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, a Requiem Mass was celebrated for the Holy Father, Pope Francis. Before Pope Francis’ funeral day, the Sacred Heart Cathedral held the “Novemdiales”-“Nine days of mourning” with Rosary prayer before the 7 p.m. masses. The daily mass was held for the repose of the Holy Father’s soul in the Lord.
Zone 2 Youth Camp: "The Pilgrims of Hope"
The Zone 2 of Chiang Mai diocese comprises the following parishes: Din Khao, Pa Teng, Pa Fang, Mae Pon, Khun Pae, Omkoi, Na Kian, Mae Pon, and Chom Thong. An annual youth camp was held on 23-26 April 2025 and there were 477 youth coming from the parishes mentioned above with the active cooperation of 30 priests, deacons, teachers, sisters and brothers who animated the activities in various formats. The main topic was “The Pilgrims of Hope”. It was presented in different formats. Activities were organized in 6 different booths, with the sub-themes on: Laudato Si, Rites and Celebrations, Vocation, Hope and Faith, Leadership, and Enneagram (9 Nopharat).
Thanksgiving Ceremony for Archbishop Francis Xavier Vira Arporndratana
During the Holy Tuesday of April 15, 2025, the day of the consecration of oil and the renewal of the priestly vows held at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Chiang Mai; the diocese was honored of having Archbishop Francis Xavier Vira Arporndratana as the presider of the ceremony. On this occasion, after the mass, a thanksgiving ceremony for H. E. Vira Arporndratana followed. It was an expression of respect, love and gratitude for his excellency being the shepherd of the Diocese of Chiang Mai for 16 years. In the homily, his excellency encouraged the 11 Religious congregations, diocesan priests and 16 congregations of sisters of 130 sisters working in the diocese. H.E. among other things said…” may the renewal of our commitment today as priests, renew our enthusiasm to proclaim the Good News as Jesus instructed us once again.” Father Boonlert Sangkusolnaiphasuta, who is the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Chiang Mai, thanked his excellency Archbishop Vira A. saying: “We would like to thank Archbishop Vira for the 16 years of dedication and sacrifice, following his excellency’s motto: ‘I do everything for the sake of the Good News’ (1 Cor. 9:23).
His excellency’s final heartfelt words were: “During the 16 years that I have served as the Bishop of Chiang Mai Diocese, I have believed and trusted in God’s loving-kindness. Everything was possible and successful, and I believed the Holy Spirit inspired me to divide the Chiang Rai Mission to proclaim widely the Good News. When looking at the statistics, we could see that at that time there were more than 60,000 Catholics and many more people were interested in learning the teachings of the Catholic church. Therefore, it was proposed to separate Chiang Rai Diocese from Chiang Mai.”
On this occasion, his excellency thanked everyone, saying how happy his excellency was staying in Chiang Mai, and felt the warmth of the people. His excellency thanked all the priests, religious men and women, and brothers and sisters who have cooperated, gave love, and warmth. His excellency in return wished that “May everyone be happy as well.”
Catholic Mission Center Staff -Thanksgiving Ceremony for Bishop F.X. Vira A.
On 14th April 2025, the CMC staff together with some family members and priests present had a Thanksgiving ceremony for Bishop F.X. Vira Arpondratana. The blessing and pouring water followed by lunch together was a simple and deep way to show gratitude and love for his excellency in all these years he had been with us in the Catholic Mission Center.
Hmong Husbands (Fathers) Annual Seminar 2025
The Redemptorist Church (Hmong Catholic Center) held the annual Father’s Seminar at Baan Laudato Si, Chae Hom, Lampang on April 24-26, 2025. The theme was “Hmong Fathers Move Forward with Hope”. The seminar was opened with a holy mass by Rev. Fr. Narongchai Mansueksa and followed by the topic of “The Role of Fathers in the Modern Church” by the catechist Mr. Metha Saengsrichaophan. Other interesting topics shared were: The Holy Year and the Participation of Husbands in the Evangelization by Rev. Fr. Durongrit Krabuansiri. At the conclusion, it was agreed to implement the following: To encourage the husbands to attend the mass in the Church more frequently; To provide catechism training to children in each village, To be ready to work together in proclaiming the Good News; News that are not good, do not need to be proclaimed; Good news must be proclaimed; proclaim the Christian teachings together; visit Christians in the villages, pray and help sing, read the scriptures; join in the prayers for the deceased and encourage each other.
Summer Catechism 2025
After an intensive class to prepare youth and children, 32 of them received the Sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation on 27th April, 2025 at the Sacred Heart Cathedral presided by Rev. Fr. Chanchai Thiwphaingam.
