The parish of St Clement Catholic Church in Chum Phae, in Thailand’s Khon Kaen Province is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
Parish Priest, Fr Ben Bella SVD, said the relatively small parish is located in a rural area, surrounded by several villages with the church an important centre of faith and fellowship for the local people.
The SVD missionaries in Thailand and Myanmar are well-loved and appreciated by both the local bishops and the people, reported Fr Boni Buahendri SVD, after his first visit there as Provincial.
Fr Boni began his trip in Myanmar, before moving on to Bangkok and then the Diocese of Udon Thani in Thailand.
The SVD mission in Thailand and Myanmar has been split into two Districts, a move which confreres say will help overcome challenges of distance and enhance unity, collaboration and effectiveness in ministry.
The two new Districts, which are part of the Australia Province, will be known as the Bangkok-Myanmar District and the Udon Thani District, and it is hoped the new arrangement will also provide further support for vocations and early formation for those discerning missionary life in the region.
The Superior-General of the Society of the Divine Word, Fr Anselmo Ribeiro SVD, made a visit to Thailand and Myanmar in the SVD Australia Province this month, expressing his delight in the commitment of the missionaries and the variety of ministries being undertaken in both countries.
Over the course of five days, Fr Anselmo was given a first-hand experience of ministries ranging from parishes to AIDs ministry, teaching, formation, migrant ministry and more, all within an interfaith cultural context.
The SVD has celebrated 25 years of presence in Thailand – a mission which began with just two SVD brothers responding to the need of the people and which has grown to include 12 confreres working in HIV/AIDS care, parish ministry, education and more.
The Silver Jubilee celebrations incorporated the Feast of St Michael the Archangel, the patron saint of the parish in Nong Bua Lamphu, as well as the opening of the 150th anniversary year of the Society of the Divine Word.
The Thailand-Myanmar District celebrated the Jubilee Opening on September 28, as part of the District’s celebration of its Silver Jubilee in Thailand (1999-2024).
The celebration took place at St Michael Archangel Church in Nong Bua Lamphu Province, NE Thailand.
Nearly 100 friends and benefactors gathered at the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) community in Bangkok on Sunday, September 15, to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of SVD’s presence in Thailand.
While the main celebration is scheduled to take place in Nong Bua Lamphu Province, northeastern Thailand, on September 28, the Bangkok community held a local event for those unable to make the 600 km journey to Nong Bua Lamphu.
Parishioners at the Immaculate Conception Church in the Thai village of Sangkhomphatthana will enjoy their Easter celebrations under a brand new roof – the final part of a long-running renovation project that will keep them dry in the rainy season and cooler in the heat.
Fr Truong Le SVD said the church, located near the Mekhong River bordering Laos, had been in need of a few roof and ceiling ever since he arrived in the parish four years ago, but a damaging storm during the rainy season made the project more urgent.
The Presentation Parish in Thailand celebrated its feast day recently with a special Mass and shared meal attended by the local bishop, parishioners and villagers, including people from other faiths.
The parish is situated on the banks of the Mekong River between the Thai-Laos borders and the villagers came together to decorate the church beautifully for the celebration and prepare special food to share together afterwards.
Sixteen seminarians and their formators from the major seminary of Laos have visited the ministries of the Divine Word Missionaries in Udon Thani Diocese, Thailand, learning about their care for people living with HIV-AIDS, as well as parish ministry.
Fr Toub Anisong SVD, who himself hails from Laos, says the visit by his countrymen to the SVD ministries was part of a broader visit exploring the main ministries of the Udon Thani Diocese.
