In 1957, Pope Pius XII promulgated the encyclical Fidei Donum, urging established Catholic communities around the world to send their clergy and religious to assist local churches lacking pastoral personnel.
Decades later, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand founded the Thai Missionary Society (TMS) on Aug. 17, 1989, continuing the Church’s tradition of missionary cooperation.
What began as an exploratory venture has developed into a decade-long partnership between the Church in Thailand and Taiwan.
Ahead of the mission’s 10th anniversary in September 2027, the TMS mission in Taiwan launched a year-long online countdown campaign in mid-October 2026, highlighting 10 years of pastoral ministry among local Taiwanese parishioners and Thai migrant workers.
According to a message from Archbishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana on Nov. 4, 2026, the roots of the TMS mission in Taiwan trace back to an earlier humanitarian initiative.
Years ago, a Taiwanese Caritas delegation traveled to northern Thailand to deliver humanitarian aid. That initial encounter established a relationship between Fr. Adriano Pelosin, who helped develop the TMS, and Bishop John Baptist Lee Keh-mien of the Diocese of Hsinchu.
Following a formal observation trip to Taiwan in 2014, an agreement was later reached to deploy Thai clergy to Hsinchu.
In September 2017, the first group of Thai missionaries, including Fr. Cherry, Fr. Boy, and Fr. Korn, arrived in Taiwan, beginning the society’s missionary work in the diocese.
Today, the TMS numbers 22 priests in Asia, with 15 serving in Thailand, three in Cambodia, one in Laos, and three stationed in the Diocese of Hsinchu.
In Hsinchu, the three current TMS missionaries, Fr. Boy (Wang Shiru), Fr. Tee (Li Sanqi/Bosco Phulsap Leelanurak), and Fr. Games (Peng Ruizhi), serve local parishes and migrant communities.
Fr. Boy, one of the original 2017 missionaries, currently serves as pastor of Holy Trinity Church in Xiangshan. He is involved in youth ministry and parish activities.
Wu Peiqi, chairperson of the Pastoral and Evangelization Council at the Hsinchu Diocesan Cathedral, recalls his impact during his earlier tenure at the cathedral:
“Father Wang is like a ‘big kid’ himself, pouring his heart into being present for the young. He organized altar servers, taught youth how to play guitar, played soft-ball hockey after children’s Masses, and led Christmas Eve pageants. Even now, he brings the Thai community to the Cathedral to share in holiday performances.”
Serving alongside him at Holy Trinity Church and as assistant parish priest at the Hsinchu Diocesan Cathedral (Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) is Fr. Tee.
Fr. Tee is known among parishioners for his homilies and pastoral work with young Catholics.
Meanwhile, Fr. Games provides pastoral outreach and parish support, assisting with children’s liturgies and other parish activities, including distributing donated rice alongside parish volunteers.
Beyond parish duties, the TMS mission in Taiwan focuses on outreach to the Thai migrant community. Thousands of Thai citizens work in Taiwan’s factories, construction sites, and households.
Far from home, many face legal difficulties, language barriers, and workplace vulnerabilities.
Working in close collaboration with the Hsinchu Workers’ Center and local Caritas chapters, TMS priests provide pastoral assistance and practical support, including translation assistance during medical emergencies, legal counsel, and intervention in cases of labor distress.
The theme chosen for the upcoming 10th-anniversary celebrations, “From Dark Days to a New Life Under Grace,” reflects the mission’s work among migrant communities.
For Wuthichai, a Thai worker in Taiwan, the mission provided assistance during a period of hardship.
After arriving in Taiwan on a tourist visa in search of employment, Wuthichai was exploited by an employer who withheld his wages and eventually dismissed him.
While undocumented, Wuthichai faced another difficulty when his partner contracted severe pneumonia. Unable to access health care or afford treatment, the couple contacted Fr. Boy at the Thai Catholic Mission for assistance.
“The Mission did not remain indifferent or abandon us,” Wuthichai shared. “They stepped in immediately, ensuring my partner received urgent medical attention, which saved her life.
“Beyond healthcare, they assisted with legal matters so we could obtain Alien Resident Certificates. From living in the shadows—voiceless and without rights—we were given a new life. They restored our human dignity.”
The countdown to 2027 has also brought former missionaries back to Hsinchu. In late October 2026, Fr. Peter Komthuan Suksuthip, who served in Taiwan from 2017 to 2022, led a pilgrimage group of Thai Catholics back to the diocese to give thanks and support the active missionaries.
The Thai Missionary Society’s presence in Hsinchu reflects the Church’s pastoral work among migrant communities. Through parish ministry and assistance to Thai workers facing legal, medical, and employment difficulties, the three missionaries continue their service in Taiwan.
