A New Diocese of the Catholic Church Is Erected in Thailand
Fr. Joseph Vuthilert Haelom
On April 25, 2018, the Holy See announced that a new diocese had been formed in northern Thailand.
Pope Francis decided to divide the diocese of Chiang Mai in two, thus creating the diocese of Chiang Rai.
Situated in northern Thailand, the provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are close to the borders of Burma and Laos. They are populated by many different ethnic groups, the Hmong and the Karen, for example, who were evangelized by European missionaries during the 19th century. The majority of the population, however, is Buddhist.
The new diocese of Chiang Rai will cover a population of 2.7 million and a territory of about 23,600 square miles. It has about 18,000 faithful, 6 diocesan priests, and 41 religious or missionary priests.
On April 25, 2018, the Holy See also announced the nomination of the local bishop, Fr. Joseph Vuthilert Haelom. Ordained in 1980, he has been Vicar General of the archdiocese of Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, since 2012. The new bishop already knows the region well, after serving as parish priest between 2004 and 2012 in the diocese of Chiang Mai. From 2005 on, he also served as diocesan Vicar General.
The church of the Nativity of Our Lady in Chiang Rai was has become the cathedral of the new diocese.
Sources: I.Media / FSSPX.News – 5/3/2018
Sources: I.Media / FSSPX.News – 5/3/2018
