Diocese of Chiang Mai, Thailand

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Chiang Mai / สังฆมณฑลเชียงใหม่ (ไทย) / 清邁 (正體中文) / Chiangmaien(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Bangkok

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Websites:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1959.11.17: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Chieng-Mai / Chiengmaien(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Bangkok)
1965.12.18: Promoted as Diocese of Chieng-Mai / Chiengmaien(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Bangkok)
1969.07.02: Renamed as Diocese of Chiang Mai / สังฆมณฑลเชียงใหม่ (ไทย) / 清邁 (正體中文) / Chiangmaien(sis) (Latin)
1970.06.20: Lost territory to Diocese of Nakhon Sawan
2018.04.25: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Chiang Rai

Present Prelates

Bishop (2009.02.10 – ...):

Bishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana (69)

Apostolic Administrator of Bangkok (Thailand)

General Secretary of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand

Ordinaries

Bishops of Chiang Mai (Roman Rite)

Bishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana (69)
(2009.02.10 – ...)

Bishop of Chiang Mai (Thailand)
Apostolic Administrator of Bangkok (Thailand)
General Secretary of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand

Omnia facio propter evangelium

Born:	1955.10.03 (Sam Saem, Thailand)
Ordained Priest:	1981.06.07
Consecrated Bishop:	2009.05.01

Priest of Bangkok (Thailand) (1981.06.07 – 2009.02.10)

Bishop of Chiang Mai (Thailand) (2009.02.10 – ...)

General Secretary of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (2018? – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Bangkok (Thailand) (2024.06.27 – ...)

Bishop Joseph Sangval Surasarang
(1986.10.17 – 2009.02.10)

In spe salvi

Born:	1935.08.25 (Tambon Nakhok, Thailand)
Ordained Priest:	1962.12.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1987.01.06
Died:	2022.02.10 (Bangkok, Thailand † 86)

Bishop of Chiang Mai (Thailand) (1986.10.17 – 2009.02.10)

Bishop Robert Ratna Bamrungtrakul
(1975.04.28 – 1986.10.17)

Born:	1916.02.11 (Bangkok, Thailand)
Ordained Priest:	1949.01.31
Consecrated Bishop:	1969.09.07
Died:	2000.12.08 († 84)

Bishop of Ratchaburi (Thailand) (1969.06.26 – 1975.04.28)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (1973 – 1979)

Bishop of Chiang Mai (Thailand) (1975.04.28 – 1986.10.17)

Bishop Lucien-Bernard Lacoste (鄭紹基), S.C.I. di Béth.
(Apostolic Administrator 1959 – 1975.04.28)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Sacred Heart Cathedral, Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai

Hpa-an (↙), Loikaw (←), Pekhon (↖), Kengtung (↑), Chiang Rai (↗), Nakhon Sawan (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 48,013 km²

Population: 55,752 Catholics (1.8% of 3,142,985 total)

Pastoral Centres: 34 parishes, 7 missions

Personnel: 92 priests (44 diocesan, 48 religious), 224 religious (94 brothers, 130 sisters), 16 seminarians