Thailand’s northeastern Archdiocese of Thare and Nonseng marks the end of the Holy Year while also celebrating the 65th anniversary of the establishment of a Diocese and the 60th anniversary of the Elevation to Archdiocese.
Archbishop Anthony Weradet Chaiseree presided over the celebration on December 20 along with Bishop Stephen Boonlert Phromsena, Bishop John Marie Vianney Preeda Intirach from Laos, and retired Archbishop Louis Chamnien Santisuknirand at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Martyrs of Thailand in Songkhon.
The Seven Blessed Martyrs of Songkhon were Catholics executed 85 years ago in December 1940 during the Franco-Thai War. Local police falsely accused them – one man, three women and three teenage girls – of spying for France. The executions took place in the village of Songkhon, in today’s Wan Yai district of Mukdahan province. The seven were beatified by Pope John Paul II in Rome on October 22, 1989.
The Archdiocese of Thare and Nonseng is divided into 30 parishes and served by 51 priests. Its origins date back to the Vicariate Apostolic of Laos, established on May 4, 1899, which once covered present-day northeastern Thailand and Laos.
