Roman Catholic Diocese of Surat Thani
The (Roman Catholic) Diocese of Surat Thani (Diœcesis 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 Diœcesis Suratthanensis สังฆมณฑลสุราษฎร์ธานี | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country |  Thailand |
| 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 | Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovitvanit |
| Map | |
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| Website | |
| Official website | |
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[1][2]
- 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: อาสนวิหารอัครเทวดาราฟาเอล) 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.
