The Diocese of Chanthaburi marked the 50th anniversary of its Social Development Center, or Caritas Chanthaburi, on Oct. 24 with a gathering in Sa Kaeo Province near the Cambodian border.
The celebration, held alongside an assembly of lay Catholics, brought together clergy, religious sisters and parishioners to commemorate five decades of social ministry and discuss the future of Catholic social action in the diocese.
Bishop Philip Adisak Phorn-Ngam presided over the Mass.
Youth volunteers, major and minor seminarians, and students from Darasamutr Schools in Sa Kaeo and Aranyaprathet assisted in the gathering.
Information booths provided health screenings, counseling, traditional Thai massage and anti-trafficking information, while local parishes distributed food.
Apinya Thajit, deputy director of the Stella Maris Seafarers’ Center in Thailand, addressed the gathering and joined a panel discussion on service to vulnerable communities.
Drawing from her work with fishers, migrant workers and exploited seafarers in the Gulf of Thailand, Thajit urged participants to look beyond individual cases and recognize the people behind them.
“Behind every single ‘case’ file lies a human life—someone who feels pain, exhaustion, fear, and homesickness just like any of us,” Thajit said.
“When we encounter a migrant worker who speaks a different language, a child needing safety, or an elderly person left on their own, we are invited to look at them through the eyes of Jesus. Before asking ‘Why are they like this?’, we must ask, ‘What have they been through, and how can we help them right now?’” Thajit added.
Drawing on Saint Paul’s theology of the Mystical Body in 1 Corinthians 12, Thajit said every member of the Church has a role in serving others, including through cooking, driving, translating, coordinating legal aid and prayer.
She also warned against burnout among people engaged in social ministry and urged the faithful to care for those working on the front lines.
Thajit said the spirit of Caritas must also begin within families.
“Before we look too far afield, turn your attention to those closest to you. Our family is the primary space where we practice love and service every single day. Start by putting down your phone, listening without rushing, and asking with genuine care: ‘Is there anything you’d like to share about your day?’” She said.
The gathering also presented findings from a study titled “Developing the Role of Lay Christians in Advancing the Social Pastoral Work of the Diocese of Chanthaburi.”
The study surveyed 320 pastoral council members across the diocese and assessed lay participation in four areas.
It found strong openness to collaboration and listening across economic groups, as well as cooperation with civic agencies and other faith traditions.
Participants also viewed their work, family responsibilities and personal integrity as expressions of their baptismal witness and service to God.
The study, however, found that participation in formal diocesan training programs remained limited because of geographical and logistical barriers. It recommended bringing formation programs closer to parishes.
It also stressed the need to engage, mentor and empower young people to assume leadership roles in parish structures.
The assembly outlined six proposals for parish pastoral councils, including decentralized training on Catholic social teaching, human trafficking prevention, labor rights, child protection and environmental stewardship.
It also proposed regular listening forums involving clergy, religious, lay leaders and young people to assess local needs and ensure that vulnerable communities are heard.
Other recommendations included establishing clearer referral systems among parish councils, health ministries, government social services and specialized ministries such as Stella Maris.
The assembly also called for greater youth participation in outreach and awareness campaigns, stronger cooperation with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security and the Ministry of Labor, and evaluation systems that measure long-term improvements in people’s lives rather than simply counting participants.
As Caritas Chanthaburi enters its next 50 years, the diocese said its social ministry continues to serve migrants, seafarers, the sick and other marginalized communities.
