Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
C.Ss.R.
Chiang Mai (Agenzia Fides) - Over 1,500 faithful from various villages participated in the inauguration of the new church in the mountainous district of Mae Chaem, in the Diocese of Chiang Mai, expressing great joy and gratitude.
According to a statement sent to Fides, the previous church in the village of Pa Fang, located in the youth center, had become too small and inadequate to meet the growing needs of the faithful, especially since many of them moved to the city of Mae Chaem for work, education, or other reasons.
To meet this need, the Thai Province of the Redemptorist Missionaries, who have been working in Mae Chaem for over 25 years, inaugurated the new church at the heart of their mission on April 5.
Strategically located in the heart of Mae Chaem, the new church is intended to be a visible and welcoming presence for all seeking support and a sense of community and faith. Its establishment is a testament to the vitality of the Church in this mission area and to the commitment of those who support it. As Provincial Father Peter Jittapol Plangklang (C.Ss.R.) reports, this is a milestone that marks not only the growth of the local Catholic community but also a renewed commitment to pastoral care among the region's tribal peoples.
The Redemptorists' long-standing presence has borne rich fruit: The mission now includes three main parishes and over 70 chapels scattered throughout various villages. The new church symbolizes the mission to proclaim the Good News to the poor and marginalized. It also represents the growing maturity and unity of the Catholic communities among the tribal peoples, whose faith continues to flourish despite geographical, linguistic, and socioeconomic challenges.
The blessing ceremony was presided over by Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana, Archbishop of Bangkok and former Bishop of Chiang Mai, in the presence of Archbishop Peter Brian Wells, Apostolic Nuncio to Thailand, Father Peter Jittapol Plangklang (C.Ss.R.), Provincial Superior of the Redemptorists in Thailand, as well as other priests, religious, civil leaders, and local authorities. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 8/4/2025)
