The Presentation Parish in Thailand celebrated its feast day recently with a special Mass and shared meal attended by the local bishop, parishioners and villagers, including people from other faiths.

The parish is situated on the banks of the Mekong River between the Thai-Laos borders and the villagers came together to decorate the church beautifully for the celebration and prepare special food to share together afterwards.

The celebration was held this month to coincide with the Feast of the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple. The chief celebrant was Bishop Joseph Leuchai Thadvisai, assisted by Parish Priest Fr Toub Anisong SVD and visiting clergy.

Fr Toub said the whole-village feast day celebration is part of the Church’s tradition in Thailand.

“It is an annual celebration of the parish and it is, in part, a Thanksgiving Mass for all the blessings people receive from God,” Fr Toub said.

“Usually, the bishop is the presider over the Mass and priests, religious and the faithful from around the diocese come over.

“Moreover, people from different faith backgrounds also come. Here in Thailand, our Catholic community lives in the midst of Buddhists. So, the people of the two religions support each other when they have activities.”

Fr Toub said that after the Mass, people shared food and drink together.

“It is part of showing solidarity with one another in the local community,” he said.

Fr Toub said the beautiful floral arrangements and other decorations which adorned the church were also the work of the parishioners.

“The villagers are talented, they know how to decorate beautifully,” he said.

“They also performed a traditional dance to welcome the guests.”

A number of SVD confreres working in other parishes in Thailand attended the celebration and their parish communities will hold similar festivities on their feast days.

PHOTOS

TOP RIGHT: Parishioners perform a traditional dance during the feast day celebrations in Thailand.

MIDDLE LEFT: Bishop Joseph Leuchai Thadvisai, Fr Toub Anisong SVD and visiting clergy in the Presentation Church which was decorated beautifully by the villagers.

BOTTOM RIGHT: The Mass was followed by a shared meal, also prepared by the local villagers.