Catholic educators across Thailand have gathered for a national reflection ahead of the Jubilee of the World of Education in Rome, set from October 31 to November 2, 2025.
The Catholic Education Council of Thailand (CECT) organized a three-day assembly from October 26 to 28 in Samphran, west of Bangkok, bringing together school leaders and administrators to reaffirm the distinctive mission of Catholic education in today’s world.
Bishop Stephen Boonlert Phromsena, CECT chairman, opened the seminar by urging participants to embrace humility and openness.
“It is important to open our hearts and minds to listen, to see, to dialogue, and to accept each other’s opinions,” he said. “A glass that is overturned in the rain, no matter how long it rains, will never be full. A heart that is not open to learning, even if sitting among scholars all night, will be fruitless.”
Fr. Paolo Eakarat Hompathum, secretary general of CECT, said the event aligned with the Church’s preparation for the Jubilee Year.
“We wanted to take advantage of the celebration in Rome to make it the focus of our own interaction in CECT schools,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to pause and reflect critically on what distinguishes Catholic educational institutions, in accordance with Pope Francis’s vision.”
Held under the theme “Catholic Education in Thailand Based on Faith, Love, and Hope,” the gathering sought to renew participants’ commitment to educational excellence and faith-based learning, Fr. Eakarat added.
A 360-year tradition of faith and learning
Catholic education in Thailand traces its roots to 1665, when Bishop Pierre Lambert de la Motte and French missionaries founded the General College in Ayutthaya to train young men for the priesthood.
Over three and a half centuries later, the Catholic network now spans nearly 400 schools nationwide, serving close to half a million students of diverse backgrounds.
Sumittra Phongsathorn, head of CECT’s Office for Catholic Education Identity and chairperson of the organizing committee, said the Jubilee gathering came at a historic moment.
“The Jubilee Year of Hope 2025 calls for renewed vigor,” she said. “As Pilgrims of Hope, we recall Pope Francis’s trust in young people to transform the world through education. He urged us to nurture the foundation of genuine humanity.”
Sumittra said the pilgrimage of hope for Catholic education in Thailand aims to revitalize, share experiences, and reaffirm a clear identity. “In a world of chaos and darkness,” she said, “Catholic education in Thailand offers hope — hope that will not disappoint.”
Synodality and the art of listening
Keynote sessions centered on the synodal approach to Catholic education — one rooted in dialogue, discernment, and listening. Fr. Peter Jittapol Plangkland, CSsR, provincial superior of the Redemptorists, guided participants through reflective group discussions.
The first discernment session revisited Pope Francis’s vision of education as an “act of love” and “like giving life.” Educators were encouraged to see their students through the compassionate eyes of Jesus — with empathy, trust, and special care for those who struggle most.
Challenges and hopes
Prominent businessman and philanthropist Vichien Phongsathorn delivered a keynote titled “The Urgent Need for Catholic Education to Become the Hope of Thai Society.”
Citing recent statistics, he warned that “more than one million young people have dropped out of Thailand’s education system,” and that “educational inequality continues to divide rich and poor.”
He also noted growing mental health concerns among youth and declining academic performance compared with regional standards.
To respond, he proposed the Yuvabadhana Foundation’s “Nine Powerful Education Project,” which promotes holistic development “from early childhood to quality adulthood.”
The Global Compact on Education
CECT resource person Dr. Anuphan Kitnitchiva led a session on the Global Compact on Education, launched by Pope Francis in 2019. He reminded participants of the Pope’s call to “place the person at the center of education.”
Dr. Anuphan urged schools to study and implement the Compact’s Instrumentum Laboris and the 2022 Vatican document “The Identity of the Catholic School for a Culture of Dialogue.”
Renewing Catholic identity
Fr. Jittapol summarized reports from small group discernments after each keynote, saying Catholic educators are not only teachers but also spiritual leaders and mentors — “ambassadors of love and hope who reflect Christ through their actions.”
Participants described Catholic schools as “places of love, safety, and joy — homes of learning and hope fostering both academic and spiritual growth.”
They agreed on several priorities: setting shared goals to address social issues; strengthening school-community partnerships; integrating ethics and volunteerism into curricula; and promoting “unity in diversity” through experiential learning.
Voices from the field
Fr. Chaowarit Sasai, director of the Education and Formation Department of the Ubon Ratchathani Diocese, told LiCAS News: “While Catholic education is founded on faith, love, and hope, it is the administrators and teachers who will make these virtues a reality.”
Sr. Deanna Maria Combong, RA, school superior of St. John’s School in the northeast, said the seminar deepened her sense of vocation.
“This seminar made me more deeply aware of our identity and convinced of our role as Catholic educators,” she said. “Meeting passionate, committed educators is a special grace — humbling and affirming. Catholic education is not just a job; it is God’s mission shared with us.”
Education of the heart
In his closing remarks, Fr. Eakarat cited Gravissimum Educationis, the Second Vatican Council’s declaration on education: “The goal of education is the formation of the human person, both for his ultimate end and for the good of society.”
He urged educators to embrace what he called “the school of the heart” — an education that forms hearts before minds.
“A Catholic school is more than just a place of academic learning,” Fr. Eakarat said. “It is a community rooted in faith, guided by Gospel values, and committed to forming the whole person. Through education, we help build a civilization of love.”
