Diocese of Surat Thani

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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.

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 the 9 million citizen 6,682 or 0.1% are member of the Catholic Church. The diocese is subdivided into 39 parishes, which are grouped by four regions.

[edit] 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)

[edit] Cathedral

The St. Raphael Cathedral (Thai: อาสนวิหารอัครเทวดาราฟาแอล) is located within the town of Surat Thani at 9°9′0″N, 99°20′4″E. The church was built in 1962, and became cathedral when the diocese was established in 1969.

[edit] External links

• http://www.catholicsurat.org
• catholic-hierarchy.org

	Catholic Church in Thailand
Archdiocese of Bangkok: Chanthaburi - Chiang Mai - Nakhon Sawan - Ratchaburi - Surat Thani Archdiocese of Thare and Nonseng: Nakhon Ratchasima - Ubon Ratchathani - Udon Thani edit