Hundreds of mourners gathered in northeast Thailand for the funeral of four teenage boys, including two seminarians, killed in a road accident during the Songkran holiday week.
The tragedy unfolded during Thailand’s “seven dangerous days” of Songkran (April 10–16), which recorded 242 road fatalities, 1,200 injuries, and 1,242 accidents nationwide. Authorities identified speeding as the leading cause of accidents.
A week after the crash, the Catholic community in Thabom gathered in sorrow and faith for the funeral, joined by an estimated 600 people, including Christians and members of other faiths.
The funeral Mass, held on April 18 at Archangel Raphael Parish in Chiang Khan district, was presided over by Father Luke Pattana Upakarn, vicar general of the Diocese of Udon Thani.
Seventeen priests concelebrated, alongside the Religious of the Assumption Sisters who serve at St. John’s School, where one of the victims studied.
Photo credit: Archangel Raphael Church
At the start of the liturgy, a message of condolence from Archbishop Peter B. Wells, Apostolic Nuncio to Thailand, was read aloud, assuring the bereaved families of the Church’s closeness.
“During this time of loss and pain, I ask you to be assured that you are not alone in your suffering,” the nuncio wrote. “The entire Church stands with you in sorrow, and together we raise our prayers to God to alleviate the pain of all hearts.”
A similar message of sympathy was conveyed by Bishop Joseph Luechai Thatwisai of Udon Thani, who had earlier visited the families at Archangel Raphael Parish to offer pastoral support.
In his homily, Father Luke Pattana described life as a journey divided into two realities: temporary life on earth and the promise of eternal life. He urged the faithful to live meaningfully in the present while keeping their hearts fixed on the hope of resurrection in Christ.
The loss has been especially painful for the Church, as two of the boys had been discerning priestly vocations. Father Nicholas Sarawut Sahaikaen, rector of the Prince of Peace Seminary in Udon Thani, spoke in his eulogy about their promise and aspirations.
“Two had already entered the seminary,” he said. “With their character and faith, they were the hope of their families and of the Thabom community, who longed to see them become priests.”
He added that another victim, 17-year-old Dominic Kittikhun Buddha, had also applied to the seminary but was unable to continue due to family circumstances.
Stories shared during the wake prayers and funeral revealed the complex and often fragile realities of the boys’ lives.
Sr. Maria Deanna Combong, RA, superior of St. John’s School, said one of the victims, Pongpipat (“Ice”), came from a mixed-faith family. Though raised in a Buddhist household, he had expressed a desire to be baptized, a wish that had only recently begun to find acceptance within his family.
Another victim, Kittikhun (“Satang”), a Grade 11 student, lived with his grandmother while his parents faced difficult personal circumstances. Teachers remembered him as a respectful and well-behaved young man.
Recalling a visit to the family of one of the seminarians, Sr. Deanna said the tragedy had deeply affected relatives. “He was such a good boy,” a cousin said. “He asked his mother for permission to go out, but she refused. When he later asked his father, he was allowed—it was the first time he would be joining his friends.”
The tragedy has left lasting emotional wounds across the community. Sr. Deanna reflected on the suffering of the families, saying, “I keep reflecting on how the parents must be feeling about all these circumstances. Let us pray for peace of heart and reconciliation.”
Photo credit: Archangel Raphael Church
The accident also involved other youths who narrowly escaped harm. One of them, a grandson of a school staff member, had been riding nearby and returned to the scene in shock after witnessing the aftermath.
Church leaders and lay faithful used the tragedy to renew calls for greater responsibility and awareness. Thanat Watcharatanon, president of the Thailand Serra Council, traveled four hours from Udon Thani to attend the funeral.
“I feel deeply saddened, especially for the two seminarians,” he said. “Very few young people from this village enter the seminary, and none have yet been ordained. This loss is deeply felt—not only by their families but by the Church.”
At the same time, he expressed hope that vocations from the community would continue in the future.
Educators also stressed the need for stronger road safety awareness, particularly during the Songkran festival, when travel conditions become especially hazardous.
A teacher from St. John’s School said nighttime motorcycle use among teenagers remains a serious concern and called for improved driver education and parental guidance.
The funeral has drawn attention to the risks of holiday travel and the lasting impact of road accidents on families and communities.
