Bangkok (AsiaNews/Ucan) - French Oblate Father Pierre Chevroulet was expelled from Laos 29 years ago, but the Laotian Gospel translation he is remembered for is still in use in the communist-ruled country. The missioner died Sept. 18 at age 80 in Bangkok, where he had been living since 1978.
During his 19 years of mission work his main apostolate was the formation of young Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He also worked on translating the Bible.
French Bishop Pierre Bach, responsible for promotion of the apostolate among Laotians overseas, said Father Chevroulet oversaw the translation of the four Gospels and made sure they corresponded with Church tradition. Laotian priests translated the Gospels, but Father Chevroulet supervised the whole process, Bishop Bach said. Father Pricha Thamniyon, superior of Oblates in Thailand and Laos, said that "the most important contribution Father Chevroulet gave to the Church in Laos was as part of the group that translated the Bible into Laotian. The French missioner worked with a Protestant group on the translation", Father Pricha said. His confrere in Laos, Oblate Bishop Jean Khamse Vithavong, vicar apostolic of Vientiane, recalled the missioner's first task in Laos was to learn the Laotian language. "He was also fluent in Greek and Latin". Bishop Khamse said villagers found him to be a "pleasant, humble and understanding priest. On weekends he walked or rode a bike or horse to nearby Catholic villages to give pastoral care".
The Gospels are still used today in the Church in Laos, said the Paris Foreign Missions bishop, who also left his mission work in Laos in 1976.