The Diocese of Chiang Mai ordained nine new priests on June 13, marking the largest priestly ordination class in its history and underscoring the continued growth of the Catholic Church among Indigenous communities in northern Thailand.
The historic ordination drew more than 4,000 Catholics to Sacred Heart Cathedral in Chiang Mai and brought together bishops, priests, religious, and lay faithful from across Thailand.
The milestone reflects decades of growth in a diocese where most Catholics belong to Indigenous communities, including the Karen, Hmong, Lahu, Akha, and Lisu peoples, and where local vocations continue to strengthen the Church’s presence in remote mountain regions.
The ordination Mass was presided over by Archbishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana of Bangkok and coincided with the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the patronal feast of the diocesan cathedral.
Joining the celebration were Bishop Joseph Vuthilert Haelom of Chiang Rai, a former parish priest of Sacred Heart Cathedral, and Bishop Peter Suphot Roeksujarit, who was appointed bishop of Chiang Mai last month. Dozens of diocesan and religious priests, as well as religious sisters and brothers from across the country, concelebrated the Mass.
“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few,” said a member of Serra Chiang Mai, a local chapter of the international lay organization dedicated to promoting priestly and religious vocations. “Today, the Lord has answered the prayers of His people in northern Thailand with an abundance of grace.”
Parishes from both remote mountain communities and urban centers helped organize the event, preparing thousands of boxed meals for the large gathering of faithful. The celebration highlighted the diversity of the diocese, where numerous ethnic groups and languages coexist within a single local Church.
The Diocese of Chiang Mai serves approximately 60,000 Catholics and nearly 4,000 catechumens across northern Thailand. It comprises about 50 parishes and roughly 500 village chapels spread among more than 700 Catholic villages.
Pastoral ministry in the diocese is supported by around 100 priests, 180 religious men and women, and hundreds of lay catechists who serve communities across the region’s mountainous terrain.
Because many Catholics belong to Indigenous communities, liturgies and catechetical programs are regularly conducted in local languages, helping the Church engage people within their own cultural traditions.
Beyond its pastoral mission, the diocese operates an extensive network of educational and social ministries. These include seven diocesan schools, eight schools run by religious congregations, and dozens of hostels and dormitories that provide housing and educational opportunities for children from remote villages.
Specialized ministries such as the Don Bosco Pha Yao Center and the Holy Family Omkoi Center also provide support and development programs for unaccompanied youth and marginalized communities.
The vitality of the Church in northern Thailand traces its roots to missionary efforts that began nearly two centuries ago. The first Catholic mission to the region was established in 1843 when Bishop Jean-Baptiste Pallegoix sent Fathers Jean-Baptiste Granjean and Jean-Baptiste Vachal of the Paris Foreign Missions Society to Chiang Mai.
After a difficult 45-day journey, the missionaries arrived in 1844 but were later forced to leave because of growing hostility.
The mission was revived in 1914 under Bishop René Perros, who sent Fathers Jean-Baptiste Fouillat and Joseph Broizat to establish a permanent Catholic presence near the Ping River.
A significant turning point came in 1931 with the arrival of Father George Mirabel and Father Nicholas Bunkerd Kitbamrung, whose missionary and catechetical work laid the foundations for future growth. Father Nicholas was later martyred and is now venerated as Blessed Nicholas Bunkerd Kitbamrung.
