Fr. Francis with Philippine Bishops and participants of the 17th National Biblical Workshop
VATICAN CITY, 10 FEB 2009 (VIS) – The Holy Father:
- Appointed Fr. Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana of the clergy of Bangkok, Thailand, director of the diocesan catechesis centre and secretary of the episcopal commission for catechesis, as bishop of Chiang Mai (area 89,683, population 5,749,882, Catholics 48,927, priests 74, religious 140), Thailand. The bishop-elect was born in Sam Saem, Thailand in 1955 and ordained a priest in 1981. He succeeds Bishop Joseph Sangval Surasarang, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.
http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=93624
Fr. Francis with CBF-SEA friends kneeling around him...as if annointing him already a year ago in a stage presentation!
We, the CBF-SEA, wish to congratulate our fellow member, Fr.Francis Vira Arpondratana, who was recentlty appointed as New Bishop of Chiang-mai, Thailand.
We accompany you, Fr. Francis, with our prayers in your new post and looking forward to a greater collaboration with your diocese in the spread of God’s Word to your people.
Congratulations and God speed !
Star, Sr. Emma, Fr. Doms
and all CBF-SEA family
These are the ID pictures of our CBF friends during our 5th Subregional workshop of the Catholic Biblical Federation held last February 11-17, 2008 in Cagayan de Oro City. After a year of that active attendance and participation the two were elected bishops.
Our hearty Congratulations to you our dear friends:
Bishop Francis and Bishop Silvester!
the cbfsea
