In a village in Chiangmai Province sits a new church named after St Willibrord, the patron saint of Luxemburg. Its name reflects how it came to be. It had been built with the labour, heart and financial support of friends from Luxemburg, as well as friends from other lands, and no less than the Archbishop of Luxemburg, Jean Claude Hollerich SJ, presided at its blessing.
The Jesuits in Chiangmai, under the supervision of Fr Vinai Boonlue SJ, had initiated the building of the church to replace the small wooden chapel the Christians at Baan Huay Yao had been using. It took about three years and the help and support of collaborators and volunteers to complete the project. Fr Vinai Boonlue SJ and Catholic university students in Chiangmai laid the foundation of the church, together with the villagers. University students from Australia came for many weeks to help. The Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary donated the pilings and the roof. And the villagers continued to build during their spare time, even when there were no volunteers to help.
In the weeks before the blessing ceremony on August 30, 2014, Archbishop Hollerich led a large group of youth and adult Catholics from Luxembourg and neighbouring countries to join in finishing the church. For them, the visit was a pilgrimage, a learning experience, and a cultural exchange. And so today, there sits in Baan Huay Yao, Mae Wang District, Chiangmai Province a church named for St Willibrord.