By Chainarong Monthienvichienchai, Thailand
On Sunday, Dec 8, the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Bangkok, Thailand, marked its 350th anniversary, celebrating its founding in 1674. Established during the “Ayutthaya” era, the parish has stood as a testament to the enduring faith of Portuguese Catholic settlers and their descendants, making it the oldest Catholic parish in Bangkok.
The milestone Eucharistic celebration was presided over by newly ordained Bishop Paul Trairong Multree who was invited from Surat Thani Diocese in southern Thailand (in the absence of the new Bishop of Bangkok after the retirement of Cardinal Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij, Archbishop of Bangkok, early this year).
Reflecting on the parish’s legacy, Bishop Paul remarked, “It must be the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary who intercedes for me to be here among you. This is a wonderful gesture to celebrate the faith rooted in this parish for centuries and to thank God and all the people through the ages who have sustained it.”
A Legacy of Faith and Community
The history of the Church of the Immaculate Conception dates back to 1674 when King Narai granted a plot of land along the Chao Phraya river (which now flows through modern day capital of Thailand, Bangkok) to Portuguese settlers. They built a small chapel, which became a spiritual and cultural center for the community.
Over the centuries, the church was rebuilt several times, with its current structure dating back to 1847, constructed under the guidance of French missionary Monsignor Pallegoix from the Paris Foreign Missions Society (MEP).
The parish’s history intertwines with that of refugees and migrants. In 1785, during King Rama I’s reign, the church provided refuge to about 500 Cambodian migrants fleeing civil unrest in their homeland.
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