St. Joseph Seminary of the Archdiocese of Bangkok marked its 60th anniversary on March 16 with a Mass attended by clergy, religious, seminarians, alumni, and laypeople from across Thailand.
The institution was established in 1964, continuing a Catholic presence in Thailand that dates back more than 350 years, beginning with the arrival of French missionary Bishop Lambert de la Motte.
Archbishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana of Bangkok, an alumnus of the seminary, presided over the celebration.
In his homily, he said, “Since its founding six decades ago, St. Joseph Seminary has been a vital center for spiritual and academic formation, producing hundreds of priests and several bishops who have strengthened the Catholic Church in Thailand.”
Cardinals Michael Michai Kitbunchu and Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij, both retired Archbishops of Bangkok, were among the attendees.
Cardinal Kitbunchu, a former director of the seminary, recalled its early years. “Before this seminary, we had one in Sriracha, east of Bangkok,” he said. “When the Diocese of Chanthaburi was established, we handed it over to the new diocese and built this one.”
Cardinal Kitbunchu, now 96, spoke about the seminary’s ongoing role. “It is not the building that matters,” he said. “The heart of the seminary is the seminarians who are following God’s call.”
During the celebration, he introduced seminarian Dominic Savio Piravis, who comes from a Buddhist family and converted to Christianity following two years of catechism.
“Despite being an only child, he chose to follow God’s call and enter the seminary,” Cardinal Kitbunchu said.
Piravis told LiCAS News, “God’s call is very clear to me. I was inspired by the life of a parish priest. After two years in the seminary, I am more certain than ever—I have no doubt about my vocation.”
He is expected to enter the intermediate seminary next year, a step before joining the national major seminary.
Archbishop Arpondratana, in his homily, acknowledged the contributions of the seminary’s former students, highlighting their role in promoting the Gospel, supporting Church activities, and participating in evangelization efforts throughout the country.
Joseph Vinij Vasupongpipat, a former board member of Serra International and a graduate of the seminary, highlighted the influence of seminary training.
“Our training equips us not just for priesthood but also for leadership in society,” he said. “As alumni, many of us take on roles in parish councils, church organizations, and the workplace, serving as witnesses to our faith.”
Mark Niphon Saengpradab, another Serra International board member and former seminarian, spoke about the organization’s support for religious vocations.
“Serra is the global lay apostolate for vocations within the Catholic Church. We are committed to promoting vocations to the priesthood. In Thailand, we work closely with seminaries in every diocese to support this mission,” he said.
The event commemorated the seminary’s six decades of operation and included messages from Church leaders on the continued importance of priestly formation in Thailand.
