Roman Catholic Diocese of Chiang Mai

The (Roman Catholic) Diocese of Chiang Mai (Dioecesis Chiangmaiensis, Thai: สังฆมณฑลเชียงใหม่) in northern Thailand. It is a suffragan diocese of the archdiocese of Bangkok.

The diocese covers an area of 89,483 km², covering all of the northern provinces of Thailand (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Phayao, Phrae). As of 2001, of the 5.8 million citizen 36,518 are member of the Catholic Church.

History

The diocese dates back to the Prefecture Apostolic of Chieng-Mai, which was erected on November 17, 1959. On December 18, 1965 it was elevated to a diocese.

Cathedral

Cathedral of the Sacred Heart

The principal church of the diocese is the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Thai: อาสนวิหารพระหฤทัย, Location 18°46′30.5″N 99°0′11.2″E / 18.775139°N 99.003111°E / 18.775139; 99.003111). The current church was inaugurated on October 30, 1999, and is already the third cathedral of the diocese. The first Sacred Heart church was built in 1931. Shortly before the elevation to a diocese, the new, and larger, church was inaugurated on February 28, 1965.

Sacred Heart College and the kindergarten school that surround the church building were added later (2475 = 1932). Originally there were 40 students, now there are over 4,000. In the last few years an English Program has been created. This currently has just over 100 students. Each class is small, around 16 students or so, and has two teachers: A native Thai speaking subject teacher and likewise a native English speaking subject teacher. Whilst Sacred Heart College is a private school, its prices are controlled by the Government and are very much lower than international private schools in the area. Student range from pre-school up to university age. [1] / [2]

Bishops

• Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana: February 10, 2009 - present
• Joseph Sangval Surasarang: October 17, 1986 - February 10, 2009 (resigned)
• Robert Ratna Bamrungtrakul: April 28, 1975 - October 17, 1986 (resigned)
• 1959-1975 the prefecture and later diocese was administrated by Bf. Lucien Bernard Lacoste, bishop of Dali.

External links

• Website of Chiang Mai Diocese
• catholic-hierarchy.org