Chanthaburi (AsiaNews) - In 2009 the Catholics of Chanthaburi celebrated the 300th anniversary of the first community and 100 years after the consecration of the cathedral, the oldest throughout Thailand, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. To mark the occasion, the diocese has reconstructed the arched dome of the building, a symbol "of union between God and man."  

Removed during the war of Indochina (1946 - 1954), fearing that the factions fighting for independence would associate the Catholic faith with the invading French army, the dome is "a symbol of faith for the people." Kanya Praditsilp, a local believer, sees it as an opportunity to "strengthen the faith received from our ancestors" and "restore the construction's original structure."

To celebrate the event, on 8 December last - to coincide with the feast of the Immaculate Conception - there was a Mass presided over by the local bishop, Msgr. Silvio Siripong Charatsri. The function was also attended by Cardinal Pham Minh Man, archbishop of Ho Chi Minh City, the Apostolic Nuncio Mgr. Salvatore Pennacchio, seven other bishops, 50 priests, one hundred men and more than 10 thousand faithful.  

During the homily, the Bishop of Chanthaburi underlined the handover "between the faithful of yesterday and today's young people" by making a parallel with the new arc of the building that symbolizes "the union between God and humanity." He recalled that the local community is the oldest in Thailand - was founded in 1700 by a colony of exiled Vietnamese - and continues to grow: "From a group of 130 Vietnamese Catholics in 1709 to over 9 thousand of today" in the only parish cathedral.

 The nuncio delivered a personal gift from Pope Benedict XVI, a silver chalice, together with the apostolic blessing. "Be united in the name of the gospel - urged Msgr. Pennacchio - and follow closely the example given by your ancestors”.  

The Diocese of Chanthaburi was erected on October 18, 1944, it has an area of 34 thousand km2 and covers eight provinces. Out of a population of over four million people, Catholics are more than 38 thousand. There are 87 diocesan priests, 15 priests, 21 men and 202 women religious.