Our Parishioners

Dear readers

Pope Francis historical trip to Thailand and Japan news was confirmed and announce since last month. The hold world know about this good news and Thai catholic and Japanese catholic community are very happy and busy for preparing how to receive the Pope and his highly respectable followers. Base on the news in our country preparation for Pope convenient and safety trip was going well with all respect.

On the other hand our church parishioners have a lot of challenging for them in life time too.

What's going on?

Please allow me go back to our church history in brief.

Our church. {{{ Nativity of our Lady church }}} was located in beautiful Chiangrai city.  It was the most northern part of Thailand  and border with Myanmar ( Burma ) and Laos. From our Chiangrai city to the both county border town was easily travel by car will take 45 minutes to 55 minutes.

As per the history of the Asia, 1962 neighboring country Burma ( Now Myanmar ) army leader general Ne Win was friendly with Chinese Communist leaders and reforming the Democracy government to Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma. Citizen inside Burma were force to change their freedom of human right into gun pointed army general command. As we all we know that all troublesome  are remaining above the Burmese citizen till date.Students with citizen exchange with their life and try to get back the democracy for the country was fail. Presently peoples elected leader Daw Aung Sun Su Kyi ( Daughter of Burma national hero General Aung Sun ) try to bring back the democracy for the people with many difficulties. even her life been threatening to dead by some military group are many time but she still can survive to help the people in distress but not successful yet.

In 1962 as soon as army got the power and Catholic Missionary from Rome, European country, America and Australia are force to return to their country by communist laws. More than that they Nationalized the school and belonging to Catholic community and destroy the youth brain in order to follow the communist laws.

Base on that Catholic Missionary had a big challenging and than they are not moving away with bare hand but they also holding some kids hands and step into nearby Thailand border village and town. On that time The king Bhumibol Adulyadej Rama.9 and their government are very kind and understanding the Burmese citizen are in distress. Especially Burmese hill tribes such as Akha, Lahu, Shan and Karin are moving into Thailand by many ways. Once they step into their Thai soil their life are safety and they can breath well.

Because of generosity with kind hearted king family and the government some immigrants are becoming Thai citizens and some are allowed to survive living peacefully under the law of immigrant rules. Also their kids are allow to have good educations and health care too.

Recently Nativity of our lady church become Cathedral for newly open Chiangrai Diocese and view the highest parishioners are from hill tribes family. Now the Pope Francis come to Bangkok for all of us so they ( hill tribes parishioner ) are wanted to receive and greet to Pope. In this case some need to have travel permission from local authority in-order to travel other province. Hope local authority will take account and cooperate on our purpose of group travelling to Bangkok.

As we are catholic we all wanted to meet and greet our religious highest person Pope in person.
Our live is very short and we don't want to miss the chance like this.

There is one more true story from me.
There is one priest who's personally helping and caring to all this immigrants and looking after the church history will come next.
Who is that?


That's all happening in our church community.

May God Bless all of you.



I am Ajarn Harry Soemyint
Admin : Nativity of Our Lady Church
Chiang Rai - Thailand