Roman Catholic Diocese of Surat Thani
The (Roman Catholic) Diocese of Surat Thani (Dioecesis Suratthanensis, Thai: สังฆมณฑลสุราษฎร์ธานี) in southern Thailand was founded in 1969, when it was split off from the Diocese of Ratchaburi by the papal bull Qui Regno Christi. It is a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Bangkok. The area of Surat Thani was evangelized by the Salesians of Don Bosco in the 1930s.
Diocese of Surat Thani Dioecesis Suratthanensis สังฆมณฑลสุราษฎร์ธานี | |
---|---|
St. Raphael Cathedral of Surat Thani | |
Location | |
Country | |
Ecclesiastical province | Bangkok |
Metropolitan | Bangkok |
Statistics | |
Area | 76,562 km2 (29,561 sq mi) |
Population - Total - Catholics | (as of 2004) 9,015,380 6,682 (0.1%) |
Information | |
Denomination | Catholic |
Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
Rite | Roman Rite |
Established | 26 June 1969 |
Cathedral | St. Raphael Cathedral, Surat Thani |
Current leadership | |
Pope | Francis |
Bishop | Joseph Prathan Sridarunsil |
Metropolitan Archbishop | Kriengsak Kovitvanit |
Map | |
The diocese covers an area of 76,562 km², covering all of the southern provinces of Thailand, including Prachuap Khiri Khan as its northernmost province. As of 2001, of its nine million citizens, 6,682 or 0.1% are members of the Catholic Church. The diocese is divided into 39 parishes, which are grouped by four regions.
Bishops
- Joseph Prathan Sridarunsil, S.D.B.: appointed October 9, 2004
- Michael Praphon Chaicharoen, S.D.B.: June 21, 1988 - May 20, 2003 (died)
- Pietro Luigi Carretto, S.D.B.: June 26, 1969 - June 21, 1988 (retired)
Cathedral
The St. Raphael Cathedral (Thai: อาสนวิหารอัครเทวดาราฟาแอล) is in the town of Surat Thani at 9°9′0″N 99°20′4″E. The church was built in 1962, and became a cathedral when the diocese was established in 1969.
See also
- Roman Catholicism in Thailand