The Xaverian Missionary Sisters of Mary marked 25 years of missionary service in Thailand on Nov. 7, highlighting their work among marginalized communities in Bangkok and ethnic minority groups in the country’s northern mountains.
The congregation celebrated its silver jubilee with a Mass at the Church of Our Lady of Great Mercy on the northern outskirts of Bangkok, presided over by Archbishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana of Bangkok, alongside Archbishop Peter B. Wells, apostolic nuncio to Thailand.
The celebration brought together clergy, religious, lay partners and local families who have been involved in the sisters’ missionary work over the past quarter-century.
In his homily, Archbishop Arpondratana reflected on the missionary vocation through the biblical account of God’s call to Abraham, emphasizing the willingness to leave behind familiar surroundings and entrust one’s life to God.
“God called Abraham with these words: ‘Go forth from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to a land that I will show you’ (Genesis 12:1). This invitation reveals the very heart of the missionary life: leaving behind what is familiar and comfortable to surrender entirely to God’s providence,” said Archbishop Arpondratana.
The archbishop said advances in transportation have made missionary journeys physically easier, but the spiritual demands of missionary life remain unchanged.
“The deeper challenge of missionary life endures. It requires an ongoing willingness to leave behind our own securities and entrust ourselves completely to God. But God’s promise to Abraham was not merely a personal blessing—he was called to become a blessing for others. In the same way, these sisters arrived not simply to receive grace, but to become instruments of divine blessing for the people of Thailand,” said Archbishop Arpondratana.
The prelate expressed gratitude to the Xaverian Fathers, founded by St. Guido Maria Conforti in 1895, and the Xaverian Missionary Sisters of Mary, established in 1945 during World War II.
He also recognized the sisters’ commitment to missionary service in Thailand, where their presence has developed over the past 25 years.
The congregation’s 2007 General Chapter formalized a decision to establish a permanent presence in Asia.
Seven Xaverian Missionary Sisters of Mary currently serve in two communities in Thailand. They live in modest households within local neighborhoods rather than wearing traditional religious habits.
Inspired by the missionary example of St. Francis Xavier, the sisters focus their work on non-Christian communities, people living in poverty and other marginalized groups.
Four sisters serve in Bangkok, where their activities include youth programs, educational assistance and partnerships with local parishes.
Three others work in Nan province in northern Thailand, including Sr. Elizabete Ferreira de Souza, a Brazilian missionary who has served in the country for 15 years.
Their ministry reaches ethnic minority communities, including the Mon, Lao and Indigenous hill tribes living in the mountainous region.
In villages where Christians make up a small minority among predominantly Buddhist and animist populations, the sisters organize religious education, healthcare initiatives and human development programs.
At the conclusion of the Mass, Archbishop Wells reflected on the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, describing her journey to Elizabeth as an example of missionary service.
“Mary was not simply going to visit her cousin Elizabeth; she was going forth to serve, bearing Christ within her to share His presence with another. In this profound sense, Mary is the first missionary,” said Archbishop Wells.
The nuncio also recalled the history of Christian missionary activity, from the early apostles and martyrs to the expansion of missionary work between the 15th and 20th centuries.
Addressing the decline in religious vocations since the 1960s, Archbishop Wells expressed hope for renewed missionary commitment among religious congregations and lay Catholics.
He referred to Pope Leo XIV’s missionary background as an example of the Church’s continuing call to evangelization.
Archbishop Wells then presented the Xaverian Missionary Sisters with a papal blessing parchment on behalf of the Holy See, recognizing their 25 years of service in Thailand.
