5722(II)_Dialogue of Three Religions

"Share Kindness - Thai People Never Leave Each Other"

By THA SC

Suratthani, Thailand, 4 November 2021 -- On 28 October 2021, from 09.30 - 11.00 hrs, Fr. Anthony Nopphorn Joseph, SDB, the pastor of Mary Help of Christians Church, Phanom, Suratthani Province, participated as a resource speaker in the religious dialogue of three religions on the theme "Share Kindness - Thai People Never Leave Each Other". Mary Help of Christians Church was also the venue of the event, intended to offer merits for the late King, His Majesty Rama IX, on the occasion of the death anniversary [on 13 October 2021]. The event was organized by the Cultural Office of Suratthani Province.

In this event, there was an exchange of thoughts among the three religions on the theme "Share Kindness - Thai People Never Leave Each Other" and the role of the late King Rama IX, the Patron of all religions. The participating speakers were:

1.Phrapalad Worakit Worakitjo, Abbot of Wat Sunthonniwat - the buddhist lecturer

2.Mr. Sansern Tobay, Surat Thani Provincial Islamic Committee and Imam of the Riyadun Muminin Mosque - the Islamic lecturer

3.Fr.Anthony Nopphorn Joseph, SDB, Pastor of Mary Help of Christians Church - Phanom - the Catholic lecturer

4.Mr. Thongchai Sarnaksorn, Head of Cultural Center, Surat Thani Province - as a moderator

On this occasion, there were 13 members of the Parish Pastoral Council of the Church who participated, together with the representatives of the villagers who listened to dialogue. The number of participants was limited due to the Covid - 19 pandemic. However, most of the participants followed the dialogue through Facebook Live of the Cultural Office of Suratthani Province.

After the dialogue, survival packages were distributed to the catholic local villagers who were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, Mary Help of Christians Church - Phanom is under the jurisdiction of Suratthani Diocese, the southern part of Thailand, with Bishop Joseph Prathan Sridarunsil as the local ordinary. This Church was started in 1970 with Bishop Peter Caretto, SDB, Fr. Peter Iellici, SDB, and Fr. Delfino Crespi, SDB. The Church had celebrated last year its 50 years [1970 - 2020] of the foundation of the Christian community.