THAILAND
Thailand Communications Officer: Ken Tran
T
he Catholic Church of Thailand was established 350 years ago in 1669. Presently, there are 11 Archdioceses with 526 parishes and a population of a little over 383,000 Catholics or 0.58 per cent of the total population. His Eminence Cardinal Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovitvanit is the Head of the Church of Thailand with His Excellency Archbishop Paul Tsang In-Nam the Apostolic Nuncio to Thailand. Last year, 2019 was the year of celebration with the 350th Anniversary of Mission Siam. His Holiness Pope Francis highlighted the celebration with congratulatory best wishes and Apostolic blessing to all Catholics in Thailand. Pope Francis also sent his Eminence Cardinal Fernando Filoni, the prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, as a representative from the Holy See to join in the celebration. On 18 May 2019, His Eminence was the main celebrant to inaugurate the celebration of the 350th Anniversary of the establishment of the Apostolic Vicariate of Siam. During his visit, His Eminence visited the Minister at the Thai Ministry of Culture with our Magistral Chaplain, Reverend Fr. Carlo Velardo among the entourage. Catholics of Thailand rejoiced from the official announcement of the Holy Father Pope Francis Apostolic Visit in Thailand from 20 to 23 November 2019. Members of the Order of Malta were actively involved in the preparation work to receive the Pope. Membership The Order of Malta Thailand started in 2009 with two members. Currently, we are one Magistral Chaplain, 13 Thai Members, four membership aspirants, one Friend of the Order, three visiting members, and three volunteers making up a total 25 in member numbers. We are in the process of petitioning three membership aspirants – Dr. Maria Teresa Piyada Wattanasan, Dr. Lucr etia Elma
Muangkroot, and Mrs. Felisa Sida Jarungjitpracharom – to be accepted as candidates to prepare for admission as members in 2020 to bring the number of Thai members to 15. A campaign to train Youth Volunteers for the Order of Malta activities was underway in November to December 2019. Spiritual Activities The Order of Malta Thailand Magistral Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Carlo Velardo SDB, held an annual retreat from 8 July 2019 for all members, membership aspirants, and volunteers at the Salesian Provincial Centre Bangkok. The retreat opened with a morning prayer, followed by a short meeting, spiritual formation, and a Eucharistic celebration. In the afternoon, Rev Fr Carlo led the afternoon prayers followed by his Tuitio Fidei talks, Belief versus Faith, and the Catholic Bible. Our Members and Postulants attended the Eucharistic Celebration preceding every regular meeting. In 2019, we also added Spiritual Formation sessions conducted by Rev. Fr. Carlo, our Magistral Chaplain in every meeting. Hospitaller Activities In the winter month of December of every year, the Order of Malta Thailand purchases and sends blankets to various Dioceses for their poor in the North and North East provinces of Thailand. Last year, 300 blankets worth 17,400 Bahts (about A$800) were donated to the Dioceses of Chiangrai, Chiangmai, Nakhon Sawan, Udon Thani, and Ubon Ratchathani to help their needy parishioners, residents, and hills tribe people. We observe Christmas as a time of giving, love, joy, and hope to lift spirits of the forgotten sick and the poor. On 17 December 2019, our members visited and made donations to our less fortunate at the following Catholic Centres: • Angels’ Home, caring for severely handicapped children and their parents from slums. • House of Hope, caring for 95 orphaned children aged three to nine. • Comunita Incontrol, caring for 250 hills tribe children, and • St. Clare Hospice, caring for 24 underprivileged terminally ill and dying AIDs patients Visiting Elderly Home for Women in Ongkharak On 4 May 2019, The Order of Malta Thailand visited the Elderly Home for Women in Ongkharak district of the Nakhon Nayok province in central Thailand. Members and volunteers prepared lunch for 40 people, mostly wheelchair bound residents, and dined with them while offering assistance to those with physical difficulties. Donation of Lever Propelled Tricycles In July 2019, 10 tricycles valued at 53,000 Bahts (about A$2,400) were provided upon requests from the Archdiocese of Ta Rae-Nong Saeng and the Diocese of Ubon Ratchathani for the needy handicapped with aim to be self-sufficient. The tricycles gave the needy handicapped better mobility and availed them to earn their living.
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2019 Australian Hospitaller
