The 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.
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
- Pietro Luigi Carretto, S.D.B. (June 26, 1969 - June 21, 1988 retired)
- Michael Praphon Chaicharoen, S.D.B. (June 21, 1988 - May 20, 2003 died)
- Joseph Prathan Sridarunsil, S.D.B. (October 9, 2004[1] - July 8, 2024)[2]
- Paul Trairong Multree (July 8. 2024[2] – present)
Cathedral
The St.Raphael Cathedral (Thai: อาสนวิหารอัครเทวดาราฟาเอล) is in the town of Surat Thani at 9°9′0″N 99°20′4″E / 9.15000°N 99.33444°E / 9.15000; 99.33444. The church was built in 1962, and became a cathedral when the diocese was established in 1969.
References
- 1."Rinunce e nomine, 09.10.2004" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. October 9, 2004. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- 2.[2.2]"Rinunce e nomine, 08.07.2024" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. July 8, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2024.