The Catholic Church in Laos marked a historic milestone with the ordination of its first native Redemptorist priests, a development seen as a sign of quiet but steady growth in one of Southeast Asia’s smallest Christian communities.
Deacons Peter Gnantina Phiakeo, C.Ss.R., and Philip Nouy Kamhou, C.Ss.R., were ordained to the priesthood on April 22 during a solemn Eucharistic celebration at St. Louis Cathedral in Thakhek-Khammouane.
The ordination was presided over by Bishop Jean-Marie Vianney Prida Inthirath, Apostolic Vicar of Savannakhet-Khammouane, who led the rite of the laying on of hands and the consecratory prayer.
The celebration drew clergy, religious, and lay faithful from across Laos and neighboring northeast Thailand, along with representatives of local authorities and other religious leaders.
Photo credit: Redemptorist Thailand
The ceremony, marked by simplicity and deep reverence, reflected both thanksgiving and hope as the Church welcomed two new priests committed to serving God’s people, especially in remote and underserved communities.
The two newly ordained priests are members of the Redemptorist Province of Thailand, where they received their formation.
Their ordination represents a significant step forward for the Church in Laos, where the presence of foreign missionaries remains restricted and the nurturing of local vocations is essential for the Church’s future.
Church leaders described the ordination as “a gift” and “a sign of the silent and steady growth of the Catholic Church in Laos,” particularly in its outreach to ethnic minorities such as the Hmong and to communities in isolated rural areas.
Across Southeast Asia, the Redemptorists are known for their mission among the poor and marginalized, including internally displaced people and ethnic groups often living on the peripheries of society.
The Thai province has long served Laotian communities, especially in northeastern Thailand, fostering close ties that have helped inspire vocations like those of the two new priests.
This longstanding relationship dates back to the early 20th century, when Redemptorist missionaries established a presence in the region and supported the Laotian Church through pastoral care and the formation of seminarians.
Over time, this collaboration has contributed to the emergence of indigenous clergy, seen as crucial for building a stable and self-sustaining local Church.
Photo credit: Redemptorist Thailand
According to the 2025 Pontifical Yearbook, the Catholic Church in Laos numbers approximately 53,000 faithful, organized into four Apostolic Vicariates: Vientiane, Thakhek, Pakse, and Luang Prabang.
The Church is served by about 30 diocesan priests and 26 religious priests, along with around 50 seminarians and approximately 150 members of various religious congregations.
Although Christians make up only about 1.5% of the country’s population of 7.5 million, most of whom are Buddhist, the Church continues to grow quietly, particularly in rural and minority communities.
The ordination also reflects broader signs of renewal in the Laotian Church. After decades of restriction following the 1975 communist takeover, which led to the expulsion of foreign missionaries and limits on religious activities, the Church has gradually experienced greater openness.
A notable turning point came in 2005 with the ordination of a local priest after a 30-year hiatus.
More recent ordinations, including four priests in 2018 at the same cathedral in Thakhek, have signaled a cautious but hopeful revival.
The ordination of the two Redemptorists further underscores this momentum and highlights the increasing role of religious orders in fostering local vocations, ensuring continuity of pastoral care, and strengthening the Church’s mission within Laos.
