Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Thare and Nonseng
The (Roman Catholic) Archdiocese of Thare and Nonseng (Archidioecesis Tharensis et Nonsengensis, Thai: อัครสังฆมณฑลท่าแร่-หนองแสง; RTGS: Akkhara Sangkha Monthon Tharae-Nongsaeng) is located in the north-east of Thailand. It is based in Tha Rae, a subdistrict municipality (thesaban tambon) in the Mueang Sakon Nakhon district.
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Archdiocese of Thare and Nonseng Archidioecesis Tharensis et Nonsengensis อัครสังฆมณฑลท่าแร่-หนองแสง | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country |  |
| Ecclesiastical province | Thare and Nonseng |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 25,477 km2 (9,837 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics | (as of 2010) 3,171,478 44,078 (1.4%) |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Cathedral | Cathedral of St Michael the Archangel in Tha Rae |
| Co-cathedral | Co-Cathedral of St Anne in Nakhon Phanom |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Archbishop | Anthony Weradet Chaiseri |
| Map | |
 Location of the Archdiocese of Thare and Nonseng | |
| Website | |
| genesis.in.th | |
The diocese covers an area of 25,477 km², covering four provinces of Thailand - Kalasin, Mukdahan, Nakhon Phanom and Sakon Nakhon. As of 2001, of the 3.1 million citizen 49,489 are member of the Catholic Church. It is divided into 30 parishes, having 51 priests altogether. By December 31, 2006, the archdiocese had 51,275 Catholics, 1.61 percent of the territory's population.
3 dioceses are suffragans of the archdiocese:
- Nakhon Ratchasima
- Ubon Ratchathani
- Udon Thani
History
The archdiocese traces its origin back to the Vicariate Apostolic of Laos, which was established on May 4, 1899, responsible for all of what is now northeast Thailand and modern-day Laos. The seat of the vicariate was at Ban Nonseng, Nakhon Phanom Province. In 1938 the northern part was split off to create the Prefecture Apostolic of Vientiane and Luang-Prabang. After the independence of Laos in 1949 the vicariate was divided: on December 21, 1950, the Laotian part was split off to create the Prefecture Apostolic of Thakhek, while the Thai part became the Vicariate Apostolic of Thare. In 1960 it was renamed the Vicariate Apostolic of Thare and Nonseng, and was promoted as the Archdiocese of Thare and Nonseng on December 18, 1965.
Cathedral
The St. Michael the Archangel Cathedral is located in Ban Tha Rae, Tha Rae subdistrict, Mueang Sakon Nakhon district, at the northern shore of the Nong Han Lake, 17°15′15″N 104°11′3″E.
Bishops
Before Thare and Nonseng became a diocese, the administrator had the title vicar, but was also a titular bishop.
- Marie-Joseph Cuaz, M.E.P.: June 22, 1899 - 1912
- Constant-Jean Prodhomme, M.E.P.: June 2, 1913 - August 20, 1920
- Ange-Marie Joseph Gouin, M.E.P.: April 26, 1922 - July 1, 1943
- Henri-Albert Thomine, M.E.P.: July 29, 1944 - March 21, 1945
- Claudius Philippe Bayet, M.E.P.: April 10, 1947 - May 7, 1953
- Bf. Michael On Prakhongchit, 1953-1959
- Michel Kien Samophithak: 1959 - March 6, 1980
- Lawrence Khai Saen-Phon-On: March 6, 1980 - May 14, 2004
- Louis Chamniern Santisukniram: July 1, 2005 - May 13, 2020
- Anthony Weradet Chaiseri: May 13, 2020 - present
References
Sources
External links
- Homepage of the diocese
- catholic-hierarchy.org
- Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.