Dear Brothers + Sisters,

The Vatican has announced the appointment of Fr. Francis Xavier Vira Apornrat of the Bangkok archdiocese as the new bishop for Chiangmai diocese, replacing Bishop Joseph Sangval Surasarang who is retiring due to poor health. Fr. Vira is in charge of Bangkok catechists before his election. He is the seventh new addition to the Catholic Bishops Conference of Thailand in the past few years as incumbent bishops retire for various reasons and two have passed away in the last ten years. The Thai Church has two archdioceses and eight dioceses. The CBCT now has one cardinal, one archbishop, and 11 bishops (including three bishops who have retired but still active in the ministry).

Thank you for your prayer support, our first CLP of the year started successfully last Saturday at the Rosa Mystica parish (Lardprao Soi 124) with more than 30 participants, 16 couples plus three Handmaids.

They were all from the parish, it seems the other parishes of Sector 2 were not yet ready for the CLP. Module II is scheduled for Saturday, March 8th.

Our YFC Youth Camp started last night and tomorrow afternoon is the General Assembly for Central Bangkok at Mary, Help of Christians parish (Krungthep Kreeta Road, off Srinakarind). Our first CLP in English for Central Bangkok is scheduled for the long weekend of May 1st-3rd, using the new modified 9-session program, to be led by Jimmy and Acharn Arom. You may start planning whom to invite

The first Singles CLP (English) is starting next Sunday afternoon, Feb. 22nd, at the Holy Redeemer parish to be conducted by SFC-Central Bangkok. The CLP service team is to be led by Ariel Estigoy, John Balgoa and Princess Biscocho.

Please continue to pray for our community activities for the year (St. Paul and Evangelization) and for the sick among our family and friends, and for those with special needs and concerns.

Have a pleasant weekend everyone.

God bless to all,

Jimmy