Roman Catholic Diocese of Nakhon Ratchasima

Roman Catholic diocese in Thailand

Diocese of Nakhon Rathasima

Dioecesis Nakhonratchasimaensis

สังฆมณฑลนครราชสีมา

Location
Country|  Thailand
Ecclesiastical province| Thare and Nonseng
Metropolitan| Thare and Nonseng
Statistics
Area| 41,148 km2 (15,887 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics| (as of 2023)
5,200,000
5,721 (0.11%)
Information
Denomination| Catholic
Sui iuris church| Latin Church
Rite| Roman Rite
Cathedral| Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral in Nakhon Ratchasima
Current leadership
Pope| Francis
Bishop| Joseph Chusak Sirisut
Metropolitan Archbishop| Anthony Weradet Chaiseri
Map

The (Roman Catholic) Diocese of Nakhon Ratchasima (Dioecesis Nakhonratchasimaensis, Thai: สังฆมณฑลนครราชสีมา) is located in the north-east of Thailand. It is a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Thare and Nonseng.

The diocese covers an area of 41,148 km², covering 3 provinces of Thailand \- Buriram, Chaiyaphum and Nakhon Ratchasima; as of 2023, of the 5.2 million citizens of the three provinces, 5,721 were members of the Catholic Church.[1] It is divided into 28 parishes, having 27 priests altogether.

## History

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The diocese was created on March 22, 1965, when the Vicariate Apostolic of Ubon was split. December 18, 1965 the Vicariate Apostolic of Nakhorn-Rajasima was elevated to a diocese.

## Cathedral

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The cathedral of the diocese is the Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral (อาสนวิหารแม่พระประจักษ์ที่เมืองลูร์ด), located in the town Nakhon Ratchasima.14°58′24″N 102°4′42″E﻿ / ﻿14.97333°N 102.07833°E﻿ / 14.97333; 102.07833

The cathedral can hold over 3,000 people.[2]

## Bishops

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* Joseph Chusak Sirisut: appointed November 30, 2006[3]
* Joachim Phayao Manisap: May 30, 1977 - November 30, 2006 (resigned)[3]
* Alain Sauveur Ferdinand van Gaver, M.E.P: March 22, 1965 - May 30, 1977 (resigned)[3]

## References

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1. ^ "Diocese of Nakhon Ratchasima". UCANews. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
2. ^ "Nakhon Ratchasima celebrates ordination of new Bishop". Fides. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
3. ^ a b c "Bishop Joseph Chusak Sirisut". UCANews. Retrieved 2023-12-19.

## External links

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* Website of the diocese
* Catholic-hierarchy.org
* Catholic News Agency article

* v
* t
* e

Catholic Church in Thailand

Ecclesiastical province of Bangkok|

* Bangkok (Archdiocese)
* Chanthaburi
* Chiang Mai
* Chiang Rai
* Nakhon Sawan
* Ratchaburi
* Surat Thani

Ecclesiastical province of Thare and Nonseng|

* Thare and Nonseng (Archdiocese)
* Nakhon Ratchasima
* Ubon Ratchathani
* Udon Thani

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