CFC Surat Thani Diocese
Surat Thani, Phuket, Chumphon, Krabi, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Prachuab Khiri Khan Provinces
CFC is active in above six of 15 provinces in the southern diocese dominated by a Buddhist majority with a large Muslim presence, especially in the provinces bordering Malaysia – Narathiwat, Pattalung, Satun and Yala. There are about 8,000 Catholics among a population of about 9.5 million Thais. It is the diocese with the most number of provinces but is second smallest as to number of Catholics (ahead of Nakhon Ratchasima diocese). Many Catholics are migrants from the northeast, mostly working in the rubber and fishing industries and fruit plantations. Catholics have slightly increased lately with the influx of migrant workers from Myanmar.
CFC spread to Phanom village, Surat Thani, in 1992, the first mission outside of Bangkok, where Fr. John Tamayo, SDB, was then parish priest with about 20 villagers, led by Johnny Mercado, Prakal/Praisri Oudomugsorn and the late Boni Manikham. Fr. Tamayo eventually became the national spiritual director of CFC-Thailand, appointed in 1994 by Archbishop Lawrence Khai (Tharae-Nongsaeng), then bishop-in-charge of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Thailand (CBCT) Family Apostolate. CFC spread to the island province of Phuket and the main town of Surat Thani in 2004.
The Thai groups in Phanom, Surat and Phuket were not so active until revived in 2006 with the support of Bishop Joseph Prathan Sridarunsil, SDB, Acharn Arom/Supatra Poolpokpol, Prakal/Praisri, Amb. Precha/ Sirikul Pitisant, Peter Somsak/Viruna and Jimmy Lozare.
Fr. Terry Tapay, SDB, is the new CFC spiritual director for the diocese. Council elder Amb. Precha and Sirikul serve as Mission Area director.
English groups were started in Phuket (Patong and Laguna) in 2006 and 2010, respectively, led by Edgar and Moonyeen Dante. English groups, mainly Filipino teachers from Krabi, Chumphon, Surat Thani and Nakhon Sri Thammarat (NST) provinces, were started in 2012 initiated by Oliver Ople with support from Bal and Joyce Palmos. In April 2014, Hua Hin (Prachuab Khiri Khan province) was opened with small Thai and English groups initiated and supported by the parish priest, Fr. John Bosco Dheparat Pitisant, SDB, and from a Household from Bangkok, led by Steve and Agnes Ward.
The distant locations of the local groups pose a big logistic problem in terms of pastoral follow-up from the Bangkok Center. The long Prachuab Khiri Khan province (refer dogleg portion of the Thai map), with Surat Thani and Nakhon Sri Thammarat provinces at the eastern side Gulf of Thailand, Phuket island, Chumphon and Krabi in the western side Andaman Sea present a very long and wide area to cover.
One good solution implemented is a joint monthly General Assembly alternating in Krabi and Nakhon Sri Thammarat for groups in those two provinces including Surat Thani and Chumphon. Pastor Fr. Henry Danielli, SDB, in NST is also a big supporter of CFC. Phuket hold their GA’s in Laguna.
CFC is active in above six of 15 provinces in the southern diocese dominated by a Buddhist majority with a large Muslim presence, especially in the provinces bordering Malaysia – Narathiwat, Pattalung, Satun and Yala. There are about 8,000 Catholics among a population of about 9.5 million Thais. It is the diocese with the most number of provinces but is second smallest as to number of Catholics (ahead of Nakhon Ratchasima diocese). Many Catholics are migrants from the northeast, mostly working in the rubber and fishing industries and fruit plantations. Catholics have slightly increased lately with the influx of migrant workers from Myanmar.
CFC spread to Phanom village, Surat Thani, in 1992, the first mission outside of Bangkok, where Fr. John Tamayo, SDB, was then parish priest with about 20 villagers, led by Johnny Mercado, Prakal/Praisri Oudomugsorn and the late Boni Manikham. Fr. Tamayo eventually became the national spiritual director of CFC-Thailand, appointed in 1994 by Archbishop Lawrence Khai (Tharae-Nongsaeng), then bishop-in-charge of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Thailand (CBCT) Family Apostolate. CFC spread to the island province of Phuket and the main town of Surat Thani in 2004.
The Thai groups in Phanom, Surat and Phuket were not so active until revived in 2006 with the support of Bishop Joseph Prathan Sridarunsil, SDB, Acharn Arom/Supatra Poolpokpol, Prakal/Praisri, Amb. Precha/ Sirikul Pitisant, Peter Somsak/Viruna and Jimmy Lozare.
Fr. Terry Tapay, SDB, is the new CFC spiritual director for the diocese. Council elder Amb. Precha and Sirikul serve as Mission Area director.
English groups were started in Phuket (Patong and Laguna) in 2006 and 2010, respectively, led by Edgar and Moonyeen Dante. English groups, mainly Filipino teachers from Krabi, Chumphon, Surat Thani and Nakhon Sri Thammarat (NST) provinces, were started in 2012 initiated by Oliver Ople with support from Bal and Joyce Palmos. In April 2014, Hua Hin (Prachuab Khiri Khan province) was opened with small Thai and English groups initiated and supported by the parish priest, Fr. John Bosco Dheparat Pitisant, SDB, and from a Household from Bangkok, led by Steve and Agnes Ward.
The distant locations of the local groups pose a big logistic problem in terms of pastoral follow-up from the Bangkok Center. The long Prachuab Khiri Khan province (refer dogleg portion of the Thai map), with Surat Thani and Nakhon Sri Thammarat provinces at the eastern side Gulf of Thailand, Phuket island, Chumphon and Krabi in the western side Andaman Sea present a very long and wide area to cover.
One good solution implemented is a joint monthly General Assembly alternating in Krabi and Nakhon Sri Thammarat for groups in those two provinces including Surat Thani and Chumphon. Pastor Fr. Henry Danielli, SDB, in NST is also a big supporter of CFC. Phuket hold their GA’s in Laguna.